Poor vegetable harvests across Europe have led to an increased demand for Lithuanian produce, with local farmers expanding their exports to include not just neighboring Latvia and Estonia but also reaching markets further afield. Saulius Zakas, a farmer from Joniškis District, highlighted the challenges faced this year, including summer rains which significantly reduced yields by up to 50%, particularly impacting cabbage, which is expected to be in short supply come spring.
Despite these challenges, Lithuanian farmers have found opportunities abroad, with Zakas noting, "We have just shipped two trucks to Ukraine this week. Just yesterday I got a call from Serbia, and we spoke to Moldova a couple of weeks ago. The demand is there." Similarly, the Šateika family farm has been actively exporting carrots earlier than usual due to shortages in Latvia and Estonia.
These shortages are driving up prices and opening the market to imports from countries like Egypt. Additionally, the low yield of onions in Lithuania this year suggests increased imports from third countries, reminiscent of last year's influx of onions from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
Some Lithuanian farms, lacking storage facilities, are exporting a significant portion of their produce this autumn. According to Indrė Lukoševičienė, head of the Vegetable Growers Association, Lithuanian vegetables are recognized for their quality across Europe, leading to steady growth in exports to countries including Italy, Belgium, Germany, as well as Latvia, Estonia, and Poland. However, the association also noted the adverse impact of this year's natural conditions on vegetable quality, predicting early shortages of quality potatoes, onions, and cabbages.
Source: LRT