After Bulgaria joined the Schengen Area, Greek fruits and vegetables entered the country's markets. Over the past year, Bulgaria imported approximately 248,200 tons of produce from Greece, valued at €131 million. This makes Bulgaria the second-largest importer of Greek agricultural products, following Romania.
Most of these imports include citrus fruits, primarily used for juice production. According to Greek economist Ioakim Klamaris, the shift is driven by competitive pricing from Greek producers and a decline in Bulgaria's agricultural workforce. Over the past five years, investment in Bulgarian agriculture has dropped by at least 50%, leading to reduced domestic production.
Although Bulgarian consumers prefer locally grown produce and are willing to pay a premium, the supply cannot meet demand. Vladimir Ivanov, Chairman of the State Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Markets, noted that the shortage of Bulgarian fruits and vegetables is a significant issue.
One of the main challenges facing Bulgarian farmers is the lack of proper storage facilities.
In contrast, imported produce has become popular in some areas due to its taste and juiciness, which appeal to consumers. Executive Director Rosen Kolev explains that favorable climatic conditions and lower greenhouse cultivation costs in countries like Greece and Turkey make imported produce more competitive.
Bulgarian producers are now looking ahead to summer when demand for local produce typically increases. However, the current market trends highlight the challenges faced by Bulgaria's agricultural sector in competing with imports.
Source: bourgas.ru