Crop consultant Kees Kranenburg lived in Russia for two years, and is currently back there on holiday. In shops, he doesn't notice the boycott at all. "There are tomatoes from all corners of the former Soviet Union."
For two years, Kees Kranenburg worked as a crop consultant for Vyborzhets, a cultivation company near Saint Petersburg. At the company, cucumbers are grown year-round under lights. Early this year, he returned to the Netherlands, but he's currently in Russia on holiday. "Of course I visited Vyborzhets", he answers. "The company is doing very well. They have continued down the entered path. The quality is high compared to Dutch produce. But this has always been a quality company."
In the region, Kranenburg hardly notices the boycott. "Putin is clever, he takes the opportunity to play a game of protectionism. In stores, nothing is noticeable. Tomatoes from all corners of the former Soviet Union. Our country and the rest of Europe are in danger of falling into their own trap." He doesn't notice anything in terms of discontent about Putin's policies. "He is very popular. On TV, you see images that we don't show. Dead people, including children. Long rows of white trailers bring food to Russian Ukrainians. Apart from dramatic vegetable prices, gas prices will soon go up as well. In short: Clever policy in The Hague!"