Ukraine offers considerable opportunities when it comes to fruit and vegetable exports, a conference is set to claim.

At present, the country exports very little, around 120 time less the volume of its neighbour Poland, despite having twice the land mass and 10 million more people.

According to figures from the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine, the country exported $2.2m worth of fruit and veg in 2004, up 25 per cent on the previous year, and its main markets are Belarus, Russia and Latvia. Imports into Latvia also remain low at around $691,000 in 2004.

National and international speakers at the Fruit and Vegetables of Ukraine 2005 conference this December, will discuss the considerable potential of the country to increase its export operations.