Set of non-cancelled stamps issue "Fruits of our orchards" 

Catalogue number: 5469-5472 
Issue date: 27-08-2025 

The new series of postage stamps depicts the most characteristic fruit tree species and their crops in Polish orchards: 

🍏 Malinowa Oberlandzka apple tree – a juicy red apple and apple blossom. 

🍒 Szklanka Polska cherry tree – red, shiny fruit on a branch and white cherry blossom. 

🍐 Faworytka pear tree – a classic pear with yellow and red skin and pear blossoms. 

🍑 Węgierka Zwykła plum tree – blue-purple plums and white plum blossoms. 

The frame of the sheet features the flower of each fruit, and the position of the sector is marked at the top of the frame. The FDC envelope design features a collage of photos depicting fruit trees. The postmark design features the title of the issue, “Fruits of Our Orchards,” with fruits incorporated into the letters. 

The issue was created in cooperation with Mr. Grzegorz Hodun, an expert from the Institute of Horticulture - National Research Institute in Skierniewice, who is also the author of the photos included in the project and the text below. 

The development of fruit growing in Poland, which was particularly dynamic in the second half of the 20th century, led to the creation of large commercial orchards. Fruit from such orchards dominates stores today, but fruit from traditional (home) orchards can still be found at local markets. It is these fruits that the older generation associates with “fruit from our orchards.”

The varieties found in traditional orchards have been cultivated for many decades. Most of them are frost-resistant, not very susceptible to disease, and fairly easy to grow. The fruits of these varieties cannot be confused with each other, as they differ significantly in appearance and taste, which is memorable for years. Importantly, almost all of them are suitable for both direct consumption and processing – to this day, for example, fully ripe, well-grown Węgierka Zwykła fruit and Węgierka jam are second to none. 

Varieties grown in traditional orchards constitute a valuable cultural heritage and genetic material that significantly increases biodiversity. Therefore, the need to preserve them has been recognized. As a result, since 2007, traditional orchards with old fruit tree varieties have been included in successive agri-environmental programs. The financial support offered under these programs to farmers interested in running traditional orchards creates opportunities to save old varieties and preserve environmentally friendly fruit tree cultivation methods. 

Varieties from old, surviving traditional orchards are also protected from extinction in field collections of various public institutions. The largest of these operates within the framework of the Protection of Plant Genetic Resources of Horticultural Plants at the Institute of Horticulture – National Research Institute in Skierniewice. This collection currently contains over 1,000 genotypes, the vast majority of which are old apple varieties.