According to preliminary estimates from the Horticulture Union of the Russian Federation, the apple harvest amounted to 708,000 tons in 2020, which is 30% lower year-on-year due to late frosts in several major producing regions.
The Technology Growth company believes that fruit and berry imports in 2020 remained at the level of 2019. Russia imported about 1.7 million tons of traditional fruits – apples, pears, peaches, cherries, and grapes.
“This result was achieved due to the high harvest in 2019 and in the first half of 2020 there were very few imports. Before the New Year, our enterprises were selling products harvested last autumn,” says general director of the company Tamara Reshetnikova. “However, in 2021, due to a low harvest, the import of fruits will increase since its supply will be limited. Prices for all fruits will increase in winter and spring.”
However, the growth in import volumes and prices will be temporary believes the Horticulture Union believes. If there are no weather disasters, the fruit harvest in 2021 will exceed the record figure of 2019.
“The fact is that 2018 and 2019 became record-breaking years for the establishment of perennial orchards and this year they will begin to bear fruit. Accordingly, in the new year one can expect not only a record collection but also a decrease in prices on the shelf and a decrease in imports,” Mikhail Glushkov, director of the Horticulture Union has stated.
Source: east-fruit.com
Photo source: Dreamstime.com
