July 19 2006, 13:31

Slicer cucumbers decreased in price down to $0.03/kg in Zakarpattya

The price for slicer cucumbers decreased down to $0.03/kg in some rayons of Zakarpattya oblast, especially in remote areas. Producers complain about excessive supply, and flat demand from the side of canneries. Processing enterprises generally purchase picklings ($0.25-0.29/kg) and gherkins ($0.43-0.47/kg). Canneries and wholesalers paid not less than $0.11/kg, in average $0.19/kg for slicer cucumber past year.

Maxim Yenchenko, the Market Information Specialist of the Agricultural Marketing Project, comments the situation: "The demand for large cucumber from the side of processing enterprises is not much lower in reality. The demand was modest in past years; however, this year such commodities may be purchased in smaller volumes, as pickling will partially replace slicer cucumber in processing scheme".

Excessive supply can be better explained by larger cucumber production than a year ago. Good prices in 2005 and 2004 seasons encouraged producers to extend cucumber cultivation areas. And, favorable weather let the growers have 50-100% greater harvest comparing to the previous year.

In this case the specialists of Zakarpattya office, Agricultural Marketing Project recommend the farmers to consider the opportunities to sell cucumber on markets in neighboring regions. Alexander Koval, the Marketing Specialist of Zakarpattya AMP office thinks, as of today, Zakarpattya cucumber sales could be feasible on SHUVAR market in Lviv. The sales price is more than $0.11/kg on this market, and transportation expenses will be approximately $0.03/kg.