Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Cucumber and Tomato supplies Increase, Prices Fall in Odesa
This week the supply of imported cucumbers and tomatoes increased, immediately affecting the price level in the Odesa market. Last week small wholesale tomato sets were selling at $2.35/kg and cucumbers at $2.90/kg. This week imported tomato costs dropped to $1.56-1.66/kg and cucumbers fell to $2.05-2.15/kg. Retail prices decreased accordingly, judging from price monitoring conducted at Privoz central market in Odesa. Cucumber prices decreased from $2.90-3.50/kg to $2.50-2.90/kg. Tomatoes, which were selling at $2.50-2.90/kg, dropped to $1.96-2.30/kg. Price dynamics were certainly influenced by the end of the holidays, during which prices traditionally increase.
The situation we see in the cucumber market in early 2006 parallels what we saw a year ago when at nearly the same time tomato prices decreased. However, this year it happened more quickly. Early in 2005, tomato prices were kept at $2.70/kg through the first ten days of February. The fall in tomato prices are apparently caused by a significant surplus. This can be backed up by overripe and damaged produce being sold for $1.17-1.37/kg.
Local producers are now preparing greenhouses for the planting of transplants. This is usually done in late January in heated greenhouses and in mid to late February in non-heated greenhouses. The ripening period is normally 50-60 days.