August 22 2007, 14:28

Decrease in Prices for Fruit and Vegetable Products in EU Countries Enhances Consumption

According to analysts of journal of CIS fruit and vegetable business "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" , this year production of most kinds of vegetables, fruits, and berries in EC-15 will increase. The growth of fruit and vegetable products supply in EC-15 results in reduction in their average prices, which affects consumption positively. The trade sources in EC confirm this information with reference to research of authority consulting companies. Thus, there is a forecast that consumption of fruit and vegetable products in EC countries in the new season will excel by 2-3%.

Let us remind that last season proved to be exclusively unfortunate for gardeners of most Western European countries. Last year practically everywhere farmers reported about abrupt decline in yield of potatoes that, at the same time, was characterized by exclusively low quality and was stored badly. Also, crops of onion, tomato, and other vegetable cultures went down. Crops of many fruits and berries in EC-15 appeared lower than previous expectations and lower than their average indices for past several years. As a result of growth in prices, consumption of fruit and vegetable products began to reduce. This year situation with consumption, according to expert forecasts, will return to the level of 2005.

At the same time, remarks Andrew Yarmak, project manager of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits", one of the powerful incentives of fruit and vegetable product consumption is active activities of branch associations dealing in promotion of fruit and vegetable consumption. Thus, the volumes of fruit and vegetable consumption in EC, according to expert opinion, do not demonstrate the expressive tendency to growth, but cost of them is rising. The main reason is that consumers buy increasingly more expensive vegetables and fruits grown by organic method. These organic (bio) fruits and vegetables, besides their consumption fresh, are used also for production of foodstuff and even for industrial goods manufacturing.

One can learn in detail about the world trends in consumption and production of fruits and vegetables from leading experts' reports during work of the following international conferences: "Fruit& Vegetable Business of Russia. Market of New Opportunities" , held on October 23-25, 2007 in Moscow, on the territory of "Expocenter", and "Fruits& Vegetables of Ukraine 2007. Meeting New Leader", held in Kyiv on December 4-5 on the territory of SC "Expocenter of Ukraine".