REUTERS
Ukrainians are already used to eating fresh salad all year round, not just in season.
The 2019 marketing year for most of greenhouse farms in Ukraine began with a two-week delay, while the total harvesting area decreased by 15% to 180 hectares; however, domestic greenhouse cucumbers are now already nearly 30% cheaper than those imported from Turkey.
"Now cucumbers are offered at UAH 58 – UAH 65 [US$2.14 - $2.39] per kg. The price was almost the same last year. However, imported cucumbers are offered at a price, which is by one-third higher. This is due to adverse weather conditions in Turkey from where most cucumbers are shipped to Ukraine. Their imports increase annually," the TV news service TSN.ua said on February 18.
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Experts say this indicates a change in consumer preferences, since Ukrainians are already accustomed to eating fresh salad all year round, not just in season.
As UNIAN reported earlier, since the beginning of 2019, greenhouse vegetables had risen in price by 20% on average due to a decrease in stocks of the produce.
In 2018, Ukrainian greenhouse products provided only 20% of the domestic market, and up to 50% during the peak season. The demand for greenhouse vegetables in Ukraine is expected to annually grow by 50% on average in the coming years.