Where did your connection with fruit growing begin?
Marek Marzec: I grew up in an orchard near Sandomierz. My father worked in construction, but fruit growing was his passion. He would get up before dawn to tend the trees before work. As a boy, I once asked a neighbour if I could collect apples left under his trees. I gathered my friends, loaded the fruit onto a small cart and took it to a nearby buying station. I cannot remember whether I was seven or nine, but I remember the satisfaction of earning my own money.
How did that experience lead to EWA-BIS?
M.M.: I studied food technology and worked in fruit and vegetable processing before founding EWA-BIS in 1987. We began with industrial apples and produce trading. Over the years, my business activity also expanded into packaging, industrial technologies and international ventures. Although these fields may seem very different, they have always been connected by the same approach: recognising opportunities early, bringing together the right people and technologies, and turning pioneering ideas into lasting businesses
Where did the name EWA-BIS come from?
M.M.: Ewa is my wife’s name. The second part was inspired by a French cosmetics company where her sister worked. We did not choose it because of the biblical story of Eve and the apple. That association came later and proved remarkably fitting for a company built around fruit.
What does EWA-BIS offer beyond the product itself?
M.M.: A buyer needs more than a list of varieties. Someone must understand the destination market and bring together growers, quality standards, sorting, packaging, documents and logistics. Our job is to organise that journey. We speak both the language of production and the language of international trade.
What must Polish apples offer besides volume?
M.M.: Quality. It starts in the orchard and continues through harvesting, storage, sorting, packaging and transport. Polish apples cannot compete indefinitely on price alone. We need consistent preparation, stronger brands and cooperation between growers and exporters. Customers should know what stands behind a box of fruit and be able to count on the same standards next season.
Paweł, how does that thinking shape the offer today?
Paweł Napiórkowski: I come from a fruit-growing family in the Grójec region. Over 15 years working in export at EWA-BIS, I have seen how much it matters to understand both the orchard and the destination market. We work with growers and supply partners on varieties, preparation, standards and logistics. As we approach the anniversary, we want to present our offer more clearly and develop product brands while keeping the EWA-BIS name visible to customers who already know us.
Marek, what does the anniversary mean to you?
M.M.: It is a chance to tell our story, but also a starting point. The ways people buy food are changing. We want to continue connecting Polish production with international demand and help growers build lasting value. Nearly 40 years have taught us that this takes more than moving fruit. It takes people who know where they are going and how to get there together.
