August 22 2006, 12:11

Good vegetable harvest - which crop to store more?

According to preliminary forecasts done by market players, significant increase of red beet, carrot and onion production is expected by farmers in fall 2006. This information is provided by "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal.

Production increase of this season will obviously exceed the build-up of storage capacities. Not all commodities have been harvested yet, still many farmers are thinking which crop should be stored in larger volumes. Taking into account the statistics of the previous years, we can see that the deficit of this or that vegetable crop was observed on market in winter-spring period of time. In past 2005 season stored onion was in shortage till the beginning of new harvesting period. The prices for residual onion shipments were high, up to $1/kg. The same situation was observed for root beets in May-June 2005.

Of course, there is no unambiguous and universal answer what crop will be the best to store - onion, carrot, red beets or some other vegetable crop. But, the subscribers of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal will be able to make conscious decision based on updated production and price forecast for vegetables. The forecast will be published in one of September issues of the "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal. Having analyzed the preliminary information about harvested crops and producers' plans about crop storage, the experts will conclude the crops for which prices have the best potential to grow in winter-spring period. There will also be information about crop prices which are likely to grow not enough to cover storage expenses.

In October past year the results of our forecast pointed out the possibility for potato and carrot prices to grow. The possibility of cucumber overproduction in 2006, and many other possible facts were mentioned in the forecast and have been turning into reality this year. The short variant of past year forecast of vegetable production and prices (2005) is open for free access here http://www.lol.org.ua/rus/showart.php?id=29900.

It is worth mentioning that all professionals of Ukrainian produce business can get exclusive information regarding the perspectives of vegetable, fruit and berry production and prices in 2007 presented by the best experts during the third international conference "Fruits and Vegetables of Ukraine 2006. Open market".

And, an updated format of the conference will provide numerous opportunities to have close conversations with the experts. Please remember, if registered in coming weeks, the conference participants can save 10% of the participation fee.