July 19 2007, 17:59

The number of produce buyers has rapidly declined on the largest wholesale market SHUVAR in Lviv region

The specialists of ""Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" weekly" tried to analyze how the crash of the train with yellow phosphorous in Lviv region influenced the situation on fruit and vegetable market in the region and in Ukraine. The information was collected from the producers of the affected districts and the market players: it confirms the preliminary fear about the dramatic decline of the demand for produce items in the region.

On July 17th the authorities of Buskiy, Brodivskiy and Radekhovskiy districts banned the delivery of produce items from the districts. However, after the analysis of soil and water on July 18th the Regional Administration made a conclusion about the absence of threat to health of the population. The TV and radio broadcasting channels informed about canceled ban in the morning of July 19th. Despite of the official position of the governmental bodies, the number of buyers of fruits and vegetables has dramatically declined on SHUVAR market, the largest wholesale produce market in Western Europe. The resellers of the produce delivered from the southern regions of Ukraine and Poland are less in number too.

We'd like to remind that Lviv region is the national largest supplier of potato, table beet and white cabbage; these crops are supplied to the central, southern and eastern regions of the country. The same region supplies a lot of carrot, black currant, apples and pears. The local producers fear that the demand for their produce will be insufficient because of the catastrophe; the prices will be affected, and finally the situation will cause losses even if the produce quality meets all requirements.

This opinion is confirmed by the poll conducted among the buyers by "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" weekly. For example, the wholesalers are sure that the consequences of the catastrophe will be fast to come; they will affect the quality of fruits and vegetables in a month or two. There is consideration that the flavor of vegetables may change, especially after rainfalls. The wholesalers are also suspicious about Volyn region; to their opinion, the cloud went to that direction.

In any case, it is obvious right now that the buyers will treat produce from Western Ukraine with the extreme caution. This fact may complicate sales process and affect the prices of the abovementioned vegetables and fruits.