May 3 2012, 10:36 Fruit-Inform

Fruits and vegetables 5.6 times less expensive in Ukraine

Fruit-Inform's fresh produce index shows that in late April 2012 fruits and vegetables fell in price 5.6 times year-on-year in Ukraine. Such a sharp fall of prices was a hard blow to Ukrainian farmers, as they incurred record-breaking losses as a result of potato and vegetable overproduction in the country.

“As of today, Ukrainian stocks of last year's potatoes and traditional vegetables (onions, white cabbages, red beets, carrots) are record high. At the same time, the market is actively supplied with early produce”, Mrs. Tetiana Getman, Head of Fruit-Inform, says. “Unfortunately, we have to say that Fruit-Inform's forecasts of the dramatic situation in the market were fully corroborated. Producers are not able to sell all their stocks in this season”, the expert adds.

Reduction of white cabbage prices was the most considerable in late April 2012: white cabbages became more than 18 times lower in price year-on-year. Prices of potatoes and onions fell 11 times. Red beets and carrots decreased in price 9 and 6 times, respectively.

Fruit prices fell less significantly: only 16% year-on-year. Apples, the main fruit category of Ukrainian consumers, became more than 30% less expensive. At the same time, greenhouse vegetables grew in price in late April 2012 and became 5-10% more expensive year-on-year in Ukraine.

We would remind you that more information about the Ukrainian and Russian fruit, vegetable and potato markets is available for subscribers of Fruit-Inform Weekly service package.