Efforts by US promotional groups Pear Bureau Northwest and the Washington Apple Commission to penetrate the Russian interior are bearing fruit, with almost a third of apples and pear exports to that country being sold in its central regions.
According to US-based agricultural publication the Capital Press, exports of Pacific Northwest pears in 2009 totalled 544,000 20kg cartons, with 30 per cent of these sold in the interior.
Meanwhile, in 2009/10, Washington apple exports to Russia totalled 651,361 20kg cartons, with around 35 per cent making it to the interior, the newspaper reported.
Both organisations have increased efforts to promote US fruit in the region with point-of-sale promotional materials and through training retailers.
According to the Capital Press, Kazakhstan is also on the radar for exports of Pacific Northwest pears and apples, with reports wholesalers have been buying small amounts from St Petersburg for some time to supply wealthy customers in the former soviet bloc country.
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