The deterioration of political relations between Russia and the west cannot be allowed to affect the security of the fresh produce chain, said a leading Russian importer this week.
Andrey Semenov, PR manager of JFC, said: “We cannot get rid of dependence on fruit and vegetable imports due to climatic conditions of the country.” He told C fruit-inform. Bananas, citrus and apples mare the three most popular fruits in Russia, as they are in the UK, and two do not grow in Russian climes, he said.
According to JFC’s own data, the share of imported produce was higher than 65 per cent in a number of categories.
In the last few years, due to economic, social and structural development within Russia, the country has emerged as a major importer of fruit and vegetables from all over the globe, matching the prices offered by western European markets and attracting fruit away from its traditional destinations.
Russia’s minister of agriculture Alexei Gordeyev, however, is reportedly attempting to introduce a federal food security law by the end of this year, in the hope that domestic producers are given a better opportunity to compete with imported product.
