Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Ukrainian berry growers should focus on organic produce
To successfully run a berry business, Ukrianian growers should focus on organic produce, Mr. Oleg Shubrat and Mr. Dmitriy Zubakha, founders of Kiyevskiy Cooperative, said during the press-conference on the Ukrainian organic berry export potential yesterday.
They think that production of non-organic berries has become unprofitable in Ukraine. To grow those berries, a Ukrainian grower has to use imported fertilizers, which prices have significantly grown in view of the devaluation of the national currency. In addition, growers are forced to sell their conventional berries only in the internal market, where the demand is not high. «Russia purchased a part of Ukrainian berries before the ban on imports. Even after the ban had been introduced in 2015, Ukrainian farmers shipped their berries to the Russian Federation through Crimea. However, Russia has toughened its customs control over banned products, and this market is now closed», said Ms. Tetiana Getman, Head of Fruit-Inform.
There is the demand for Ukrainian berries only in the EU. However, this refers only to organic produce (exported as frozen). The demand for organics has been steadily growing in Europe thanks to popularization of healthy lifestyle; therefore Ukrainian growers have serious advantages, which enable them to become the leading suppliers of organics to the EU and make fair profit. «Rich soils and favorable climate enable Ukrainians to grow high-quality produce at relatively low cost. As experience has shown, a business focused on production of organic berries and their export to the EU shows a profit of up to 200% per annum», said Mr. Shubrat.
More detailed information about the Ukrainian organic and conventional fresh and frozen berry sector developments will be presented at the 7th International Conference «Berries of Ukraine-2016: Frozen Produce & Fresh Market», which will be held on May 19-20, 2016, Cherkasy, Ukraine.
To learn more about the event, please contact International Relations Department of Fruit-Inform:
tel: +380 562 320795 (ext. - 341)
cell: +380 96 5836323 (Ievgen Kuzin)
e-mail: [email protected]