April 11 2011, 10:24 Fruit-Inform

Further 1.6% growth of fruit and vegetable prices in Ukraine over the first week of April

Fruit-Inform Project's fruit and vegetable index shows that fruit and vegetable prices went on their steady growth as fresh produce became 1.6% more expensive over the first week of the month. In the aggregate, Ukrainian consumers already pay 45% more for major fruits and vegetables than a year before.

The growth of fruit and vegetable prices was caused primarily by the increase in potato prices that led to the new record-breaking price level of borsch vegetables (onions, cabbage, beets, carrots, and potatoes). Besides this, the growth of prices was registered for tomatoes due to more expensive Ukrainian produce having entered the market.

We should also mention the decrease of average price for cucumbers, although, due to worsening of weather conditions, there was an opposite cucumber price trend in the second half of the week. Banana prices went down slightly.

Analysts of Fruit-Inform Project report also of the domestic garden strawberries to have started entering the market actively at UAH 50-70/kg (EUR 4.36-6.10/kg) that is much above the price levels of imported produce costing UAH 35-45/kg (EUR 3.05-3.92/kg), but, however, being worse in taste qualities than the domestic strawberries. It is expected that the supply of this crop will be growing, and prices will start decreasing in late April.

More detailed information about the prospects of the berry season, as well as about new market niches in this dynamically growing segment will be presented by the leading experts of this business during the second international conference “Berries of Ukraine-2011: Freezing and Fresh Market” that is to take place in Lvov, Ukraine, May 19-20, 2011. Application form for participation in the conference is available here.