Authorities in the Kaliningrad Region, Russia, are addressing rising food prices. On July 1st, the region's Minister of Agriculture met with local producers and suppliers.
According to Shaig Mamedov, head of the greenhouse "Orbita-Agro" in Gvardeysky district, the cost of greenhouse vegetables like tomatoes is significantly influenced by electricity, gas, and equipment depreciation.
Prices vary by point of sale. In the "Orbita-Agro" brand store, popular tomato varieties cost 2–3.2 euros per kilogram. In supermarkets, tomatoes from the "Orbita-Agro" are 20-30% more expensive. The central market mainly sells imported tomatoes, but local ones from the greenhouse "Orbita-Agro" range from 3.4 to 4.3 euros per kilogram.
"Orbita-Agro" notes that lowering greenhouse vegetable prices can only be achieved through production expansion. The company is building a new gas boiler house to almost double its capacity by an additional 5.5 hectares. Vegetable prices in the Kaliningrad Region are rising faster than other product categories. According to the Central Bank, the cost of fruit and vegetable products has increased by 18% over the past year. However, a noticeable reduction in cucumber and tomato prices is expected by the end of July.
Source: kgd.ru