Prospects for Growing Table Grapes in Ukraine: Opinion of Taras Bashtannyk

Fruit prices in Ukrainian supermarkets are reaching new records, particularly due to the impact of the war and climate change. However, warming may open new opportunities for Ukrainian gardeners, especially in the segment of growing modern varieties of table grapes.

This is reported by AgroReview

Taras Bashtannyk, president of the Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Association, comments: “There are crops that are simply lacking in Ukraine. One of them is pears. There is a real shortage of quality storage pears in Ukraine.” According to him, in supermarkets, the prices for pears range from 120 to 160 hryvnias per kilogram, while the quality of these fruits leaves much to be desired.

“There is generally a significant shortage of pears in Ukraine. Especially quality storage pears.”

The expert also notes that the situation with pears is different in European countries, where the problem lies in selection and storage.

Prospects for Apricots and Plums

Bashtannyk notes the growing popularity of apricots but points out that this crop is risky to grow. “Melitopol was famous for its apricot orchards, but it is necessary to carefully select rootstocks and varieties,” he says.

The association president also believes that Ukrainian plums have prospects in the fresh market. “Selection is not standing still, and I think the size, taste qualities, and appearance of Ukrainian plums will develop,” he adds.

Table Grapes and Peaches

Taras Bashtannyk expresses confidence that growing table grapes has significant prospects. “This direction definitely has potential,” he emphasizes, noting that a lot of table grapes have been imported from Moldova at high prices.

Regarding peaches, Bashtannyk believes that the Odesa region is optimal for their cultivation. “We have had and still have peaches, and although they were grown in large quantities before, there was no shortage last year,” he states.