January 26 2007, 14:47

Potato prices can decline soon

Potato supply is constantly increasing on the market of Ukraine, according to information provided by the specialists of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal. This situation characterizes the market of the western oblasts the best as the producers have accumulated considerable potato stocks there.

We have already noted that a rather warm weather was settled during two recent months; as a result, potato started to sprout and rot in the non-specialized storages. The producers have to constantly sort the potato; as a rule, the products of the undergrade quality are mostly offered for sale.

According to the data of the current week, the quantity of the vendors has increased 30% on SHUVAR market in Lviv, the market administration informs. The prices are still kept on the past week level: this situation is predetermined by the vendors' desire to get at least minimal sales profit with the account of the expenses for potato storage and sorting.

To some experts' opinion, the present-day situation can provoke the excessive supply of potato and the relevant decrease of the sales prices in the nearest future. At the same time, the companies can be short of quality potato by spring; it will be impossible to store the product in the non-specialized storages during the warm winter. So, we will possibly witness the "stratification" of potato prices this year: the high-quality potato will possibly cost twice and more times as much than the undergrade potato.