Affordable strawberries again: discovery of a strengthened ruble's impact on berry prices
Berries Prices Potentially Soaring in 2025
Hey there! Let's talk about the berry and fruit scene in Russia for 2025. The Ministry of Agriculture has planned for a mind-boggling harvest of approximately 2.1 million tons of these tasty treats, a jump from the 1.9 million tons of last year – apples making up around 1.6 million tons of that haul. But, hey, don't pop the champagne just yet! Due to the early stages of the season and the possibility of frosts or droughts, it's a little too early to tell the exact berry yield for this year.
The heads-up comes from Irina Koziyeva, the dynamic duo of Berry Academy and FruitNews, who warns that the winter of 2025 was a rough one. The wild swings in temperature, with some freezing cold snaps following periods of warmth in January and March, could have left a chilling effect on various fruit and berry plants that had already started to wake up from the winter slumber. And that, folks, might toll the toll on the harvest of most fruit and berry crops for at least the next season.
But, don't fret! Berries might not become the next gold rush in terms of cost. Expert opinions suggest that our markets are well-stocked with imported goods to keep prices in check. Koziyeva points out that the strengthening ruble has a direct impact on the cost of all imported fruits, while Stanislav Bogdanov, the boss of the Association of Retail Companies (AKORT), brings up a seasonal peak in imported berries from a host of countries like Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, Peru, Lebanon, Mexico, Armenia, and Belarus. Russian supplies account for just around 16% of the berries available, up from a measly 10% at the same time last year. So, there's that!
Well, the story's different for strawberries, as they're mostly homegrown here. For a closer look at the outlook for future harvests of strawberries, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, and grapes, as well as the expected prices for berries this year, feel free to explore our website's photo gallery.
Stay tuned for more updates, and remember - life's a berry, berry beautiful struggle!
Sources:* 1. Unfavorable winter conditions in certain regions necessitated re-sowing efforts.* 2. Russia's reliance on imports to meet berry demands, combined with a global shortage of berry raw materials and rising import costs, suggest a potential price increase for berries in 2025.
- Irina Koziyeva, from Berry Academy and FruitNews, predicted that the rough winter of 2025 could potentially lead to a decline in the berry harvest for the next season.
- Due to the strengthening ruble, the cost of imported fruits (including berries) is likely to increase in 2025, according to Stanislav Bogdanov, the head of the Association of Retail Companies (AKORT).
- In contrast, theoutlook for strawberries in the local industry may not necessarily lead to a significant price increase, as the majority of strawberries are domestically produced.
- In the finance sector, the potential price hike of berries in 2025 might be influenced by Russia's increased reliance on imported berries and the global shortage of berry raw materials.