Currently, these vegetables are primarily sourced from other regions of Russia, with tomatoes also being imported from Turkey and soon to be supplied from Azerbaijan, according to Alexey Yelaev, Deputy CEO of the Spar retail chain.
The local greenhouses in Kaliningrad cannot ensure year-round supply, and local vegetables are expected to return to the market in February–March.
Experts predict that winter cucumber and tomato prices will remain at last year's levels, as the costs associated with greenhouse heating, labor, and logistics are not expected to decrease.
Last winter saw a significant increase in cucumber and tomato prices in the Kaliningrad region, with prices ranging from 2.87 to 4.1 euros for cucumbers and 1.84 to 3.07 euros per kilogram for tomatoes in mid-January. The higher costs were attributed, in part, to changes in logistics.
Source: kgd.ru