Ukraine has prospects in the international raspberry market, predicts UPOA

Since 2017, Ukraine has been actively increasing its raspberry production capacity, contributing to the development of this sector in the country. This was reported by the head of the Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Association (UPOA), Taras Bashtannyk, emphasizing that due to high prices for the berry, which occasionally fell, some producers faced losses, but overall the situation was favorable for the industry.

This is reported by AgroReview

According to Taras Bashtannyk, Ukraine continues to expand its raw material capacities, particularly in the areas of freezing, sorting, and storing berries.

“One step back — two steps forward, Ukraine has been increasing and continues to increase its raw material base. Moreover, the capacities for freezing, sorting, post-harvest processing, and storing frozen berries are definitely increasing, albeit not in geometric progression, but certainly in arithmetic progression. If 10 years ago there were conditionally X factories across Ukraine, now there are at least X10.”

At the same time, given the competition from countries like Serbia and Poland, the growth of frozen raspberry production in Ukraine currently remains slow, reports SEEDS. Poland focuses on exporting fresh raspberries, as prices for them are significantly higher.

Opportunities for entering new markets and development prospects

Previously, the main market for Ukrainian raspberry producers was Poland, where the berries were repackaged and further supplied. Now, new opportunities have emerged for independent entry into the markets of Western Europe, the USA, Canada, and other countries, noted Taras Bashtannyk. This opens up additional prospects for increasing revenue, as prices for the berry there are higher, and sales channels are more reliable.

He stated that while a rapid increase in raspberry yields is not expected in the coming years, positive forecasts for the industry’s development remain. He noted that revenue from raspberry sales is likely to grow faster than the gross yield of berries, as selling prices may be higher than before. “Therefore, I believe that revenue from raspberries will grow faster than the gross yield. Simply because the selling price may be higher. So the forecasts are positive.”