Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Russia to have no berry pickers in 5 years
Labor shortage remains the main problem for Russian procurement companies dealing with wild berries. Moreover, the situation is only worsening year by year.
“A rapid decrease in rural population leads to a lower number of berry pickers despite higher procurement prices”, Mr. Aleksandr Samokhvalov, Managing Director of Yagody Karelii, said at the 3rd International Conference “Berries of Ukraine – 2012: Frozen Produce & Fresh Market”.
“If the situation does not change in the nearest time, we risk having no berry pickers in 3-5 years and switching over to imported raw produce notwithstanding high prospects in picking domestic berries”, Mr. Samokhvalov noted.
The expert also added that Russian producers of frozen berries will not lose their share in the market after Russia's entry into the WTO. At the same time, that fact will lead to lower prices in the frozen berry sector.