As the New Year approaches, the prices of some vegetables are expected to rise by almost a quarter, with cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, and berries experiencing the highest increase. The anticipated 25% cost surge for greenhouse plants is based on Rosstat's analysis. Over the last three months, tomato prices have doubled, and cucumber prices have risen by 30%, according to Rosstat data.
Vladimir Kashin, the head of the State Duma Committee on Agricultural Issues, attributes the increased prices of certain vegetables to the rising cost of fuel necessary for greenhouse heating.
Another significant factor driving up cucumber and tomato prices is the low localization of seed production in the country, with many Russian farmers still importing seeds, paying in dollars.
Andrey Kazakov, executive director of the Fruit and Vegetable Union, highlights that Russia produces enough cucumbers to meet domestic demand, but the low self-sufficiency in tomatoes leads to import dependence. Kazakov expects cucumbers to increase in price by the New Year, but not as significantly as tomatoes, which are more affected by the dollar exchange rate.