July 19 2006, 13:48

Early potato is one third as more expensive now than in season 2005

According to data of price monitoring conducted by "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal, the price for early potato is higher this year than a year ago.

Several price periods can be distinguished this season. This year season for early national potato started early May with the prices $2.54-3.13/kg. The price steadily reduced three-fold during 20 next days down to $0.58-0.98/kg. The price kept on this level during nearly one month, and then it went down again in the third decade of June. The price was $ 0.39-0.49/kg till early July. Then, next price decrease down to $0.29-0.39/kg happened, and now the prices are kept on the same level.

In the whole, past season was notable for the same trends: it was characterized with rather high prices in the beginning of season which further decreased. The only difference was in rates of price decline and in average prices formed on market. Past season, as well as the current season, began early May with prices $2.54-3.13/kg. A rather dynamic price decline down to $0.49-0.68/kg was also observed during several following weeks. Then the price decreased down to the level of $0.17-0.29/kg during 1.5 months; the price was the same till the end of July.

The producers from southern regions of Ukraine were the first to enter markets with their produce both this and past year season. They were followed by Zakarpattya producers and only after that the producers from all oblasts of Ukraine started to sell produce on local markets. According to information provided by AMP specialists, this year a growing number of producers utilize agrofiber for early potato growing. This technology let them have earlier harvest with heavier bulbs.