Residents of Kaliningrad will not find locally grown vegetables during the winter and spring, according to the regional Ministry of Agriculture. This is due to climate conditions and necessary technological breaks in greenhouse operations.
Open-field vegetable production runs from May to August, while greenhouses operate from March to November. Each year, greenhouse producers must pause operations for cleaning, substrate replacement, disinfection, and preparation for new planting. These breaks, typically starting in November, last about three months, the ministry explained.
Rising costs during the fall and winter, driven by reduced daylight and higher lighting expenses, make local vegetable production unprofitable. Retailers address this issue by importing tomatoes and cucumbers from other regions and countries.
In 2024, Kaliningrad's open fields produced 280 tons of tomatoes and 492 tons of cucumbers. Greenhouses yielded 3,050 tons of tomatoes and 3,198 tons of cucumbers.
While some producers receive government subsidies, winter production remains limited. To increase year-round production, two projects are underway. These projects aim to add 4,000 tons of greenhouse vegetables annually.
Source: klops.ru