17 May 2021
Company's news
In almost all regions of Ukraine, the season of fresh strawberries and blueberries will start two weeks later than usual. Cold winters and spring will take up to 40% of the crop.
This forecast was expressed by the President of the Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Association (UPOA) Taras Bashtannik in a commentary to AgroPortal.ua.
“Roughly, the strawberry season in the south will start only in a week, not earlier. According to our data, the loss of yield from frost will be at the level of 35-40%, ”notes Taras Bashtannik.
According to him, in the central part of Ukraine, the first strawberries will begin to be harvested approximately from June 10, and crop losses there will be less, at the level of 10-15%.
The expert is also sure that the domestic berry will not be cheap, the prices will keep at least at the level of last year.
“The blueberry season also starts with a delay of several weeks. Mass fruiting will begin on July 1-5. In Transcarpathia and the south - earlier. Regarding possible crop losses, the data differ: some farms estimate them at 10-15%, some at 35-40%, ”the specialist comments.
According to Taras Bashtannik, blueberries were affected not so much by spring frosts as by very cold winters. A significant part of blueberry plantations in Ukraine is concentrated in Volyn. In this region, there were abnormally low temperatures in winter, and at the end of the first decade of May, the temperature dropped to -3 ° C at night, even earlier there were frosts of -8-9 ° C.
“The cold in May will bring additional losses, it is too early to talk about specific figures. In addition, blueberry growers face another wave of risk when the flowering season begins. Frosts during this period will also negatively affect the yield, ”adds Taras Bashtannik.
The expert noted that the remontant varieties of raspberries practically did not suffer from the cold spring. Summer varieties, which are grown mainly in the Zhytomyr and Vinnytsia regions, will lose 15-20% of the harvest this season.
“There are many factors that influence the value of fresh raspberries. However, given the not too large volumes under it in our country, this berry will not be cheap either, ”the UPAA president notes.
According to the forecast, the volumes of export deliveries will correspond to the last year's.
“There is currently no export offer for frozen raspberries. The harvested and frozen crop was sold before the new year. There is nothing in the warehouses now, ”explains Taras Bashtannik.
He adds that the planting of niche berry crops in Ukraine is expanding slightly.
“New plantings are being formed, but we are talking about 10-15 hectares, so blackberries, sea buckthorn, honeysuckle remain niche. Blueberries are the most profitable right now, which is why the areas under them are growing the most. You can also single out strawberries, but the economic effect of its production is highly dependent on marketing, ”summed up Taras Bashtannik.
