Russia's cheapest apples are expected to roughly double in price by the beginning of next year as Moscow's bans on food imports from Western countries that have sanctioned it over Ukraine drive up inflation, the Izvestia newspaper reported Thursday.
Prices will likely leap from 30-40 rubles ($0.75-1) to 60 rubles per kilo, Igor Mukhanin, a representative of the Russian Orchard Association, told the paper.
Russia's August import bans closed down flows of fruits and vegetables from Poland, which had supplied 40 percent of Russia's apples, and Moldova, which had supplied 15 percent.
While overall inflation has already leaped to 8 percent, apples had have so far been insulated because imports from Moldova have been re-exported to Russia through Belarus, Tatiana Getman, an analyst at agricultural consultancy APK-Inform, told the newspaper. Also, Russian suppliers typically only begin importing from Poland in November-December, she said.
According to Mukhanin, Russia has relied heavily on Poland's apples because they are both cheap and hardy in Russia's cold weather. Russian apple farmers currently have neither the refrigeration technology nor the resources to make up for the potential deficit, he said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
