What Ukrainian Farmers Put in the Easter Basket: Homegrown and Purchased in 2026

Ukrainian farmers celebrate Easter in April 2026, and on this day, the sowing campaign is temporarily paused as the fields are on hold. The Easter tables combine homegrown products with items that had to be purchased at markets or stores. Let’s take a look at what typically makes it into the festive basket from their own farms and what is still bought.

This is reported by AgroReview

Home Production: What Farmers Fill Their Easter Baskets With

The foundation of the festive table for rural households consists of their own products. Eggs from free-range chickens, homemade sausage, blood sausage, cured lard, cheeses made from their cows’ or goats’ milk, honey from their own apiary, and horseradish from the garden — all of this is traditionally prepared by themselves. Easter bread is usually baked at home, using both their own flour and purchased flour, but always handmade.

In recent years, a craft movement has been actively developing in Ukraine, which has grown from these traditions. Small farms produce cheeses such as Gouda, Camembert, and Caciotta, as well as dried meats, cured sausages, and clarified butter. While this produce was previously made only for personal use, it is now sold to neighbors, at fairs, and through online platforms. Easter becomes the peak demand period for such products.

What Needs to Be Purchased and How Prices Have Changed in 2026

According to estimates, a basic Easter basket in a supermarket will cost from 1,200 UAH, an expanded one with meat products will start from 2,300 UAH, and a craft basket from local producers will be from 4,660 UAH. However, farmers who fill their baskets with their own products spend significantly less on purchased goods.

Even those who grow their own products still need to buy some ingredients: flour for the Easter bread if they don’t have their own milling, greenhouse tomatoes (which currently cost 120–140 UAH/kg, 77% more than last year), sugar for baking, and wine for the festive table. Meat, eggs, and cheese remain homemade for most households.

Prices for basic products traditionally rise before Easter. From 2022 to 2026, homemade sausage increased from 160 to 288 UAH for 0.5 kg, boiled pork — from 168 to 353 UAH, butter — from 140 to 292 UAH, and hard cheese — from 150 to 300 UAH. Eggs cost 86–90 UAH per dozen, which is 12% more than last year.

“The market has not held back this year. Homemade sausage increased from 160 to 288 UAH for half a kilo from 2022 to 2026. Boiled pork — from 168 to 353 UAH. Butter — from 140 to 292 UAH. Hard cheese — from 150 to 300 UAH. Eggs — 86–90 UAH per dozen, 12% more than last year.”

At the same time, some vegetables have become more affordable: carrots have decreased in price by 69% compared to last year, and the borscht set overall does not show record price increases.

According to estimates, the minimum cost of a basket with Easter bread, eggs, salt, horseradish, and a candle is about 500 UAH — provided that the rest of the products are homemade.

The agricultural community wishes all farmers a Happy Easter and hopes for generous harvests and peace.