Despite the expansion of greenhouses and intensive orchards in Armenia, locally grown fruits and vegetables are often more expensive than imports. A key reason: a large share of Armenian produce, such as apricots, cherries, tomatoes, and strawberries, is exported, primarily to Russia, leaving the domestic market undersupplied.
According to Armenia's Statistical Committee, vegetable prices rose by 17.9% in April 2025 compared to the same month in 2024, while fruit prices increased by 7.9%. Fruits and vegetables make up 8.28% of the consumer basket.
Market vendors in Yerevan confirm that imported goods frequently cost less than local produce. One seller said she only recently realized she had been selling imported carrots and cucumbers, assuming they were grown in Armenia. Over the past three years, prices for local agricultural products have nearly doubled, with seasonal shortages pushing prices even higher.
Another vendor noted that, despite Armenia's reputation as a "sunny land of fruits and vegetables," imports have surged. Consumers now prioritize appearance and price over taste or origin, while open-field crops suffer from increasingly harsh weather conditions: frost, drought, and hail, making them less visually appealing.
Armenia's 2024 trade data illustrates the imbalance:
Cucumbers:
- Exported — 5,000 tons
- Imported — 5.5 tons
Cabbage (white, cauliflower, kohlrabi):
- Exported — 280 tons
- Imported — 3,650 tons
Melons and watermelons:
- Exported — 94 tons
- Imported — 8,900 tons
Berries and select fruits (e.g., strawberries, raspberries, pomegranates):
- Exported — 3,200 tons
- Imported — 10,000 tons
Farmer Arutyun Mnatsakanyan attributes the cost disparity to three main issues: the absence of seed selection centers, a critical shortage of professional agronomists, and a lack of clear agricultural policy. Additionally, Armenian farms are still largely reliant on manual labor, while foreign producers benefit from full mechanization. For instance, automated carrot farming abroad can lower production costs to around 30 drams per kilogram, far below domestic levels.
In some cases, failed export deals have led to entire harvests being discarded. Even with customs fees, imported goods remain cheaper and more marketable. Yet most Armenian consumers rarely ask about the origin of produce, allowing imported goods to quietly dominate domestic stalls.
Source: jam-news.net