Poland has chosen the apple as the "official fruit” for its EU presidency.

The Polish agriculture and rural development ministry made the announcement after the country on Wednesday took over the rotating presidency of the EU from Hungary.

“For Poland, the apple is a special fruit and a source of national pride,” the ministry said.

“By choosing Polish apples, event participants will experience an authentic taste of Poland while supporting Polish fruit growers,” it added.

Appetite for apples

Poland is the largest apple producer in Europe and the fourth largest in the world, harvesting around 4 million tonnes every year.

In 2023, Warsaw exported around 817,000 tonnes of the fruit, mostly to EU countries such as Germany, Romania, Spain and Sweden and non-EU countries including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and India.

Many apple varieties in Poland were introduced by Cistercian and Benedictine monks in the Middle Ages.

However, the country only became a European apple powerhouse after post-war innovations introduced by one Professor Szczepan Pieniążek, brought about a method to ensure apple trees bear fruit annually. He also introduced dwarf trees and American apple varieties.

During Poland’s first turn at the rotating EU presidency, in 2011, Warsaw selected the strawberry, another major export produce, as its "official fruit.”