“Those vacationing in Crimea are right to criticize us for there being a shortage of fruits and vegetables. I am for an increase in the growing of such products in Crimea, but this requires hard work,“ an advisor to the Speaker of the Crimean Supreme Council told E-Media correspondent as the new holiday season proved the shortage of domestically-grown fruits and veggies at local markets, according to KyivWeekly.
“A program for annual planting of 1,500 to 2,000 hectares of gardens and vineyards has already been developed. This minimal program for Crimea was drafted by the Council of Ministers in conjunction with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, but today we are short of financing for this program,” Mykola Kolesnychenko said. “It takes five years for gardens or vineyards to grow and produce grapes and fruits,” he went on to say, “So, this is a problem of the future, but it must be resolved today.”
Crimean wine also needs active advertising, like organization of local wine festivals. Ukraine has such experience, like for example, those held in the Zakarpattia oblast. “Wine festivals should be held in all cities, regional centers and the capital of Crimea,” Mr Kolesnychenko concluded.
