November 7 2006, 20:11

Ukrainian market is short of wholesale shipments of national fresh herbs

National producers of fresh herbs inform that this market is on stage of development in Ukraine now. The main assortment of national fresh herbs producers consists of dill, parsley, green onion and various lettuces. Significantly fewer volumes of other types of fresh herbs like cilantro and basil and others are produced in Ukraine. The main fresh herbs suppliers to Ukraine are Georgia, Turkey, Netherlands, and Azerbaijan.

The specialists say that the main shipments of Ukrainian fresh herbs are supplied to market from small private enterprises. These supplies can not fully satisfy the demand of large buyers; as a result, wholesale companies more often prefer to work with imported produce.

Fresh herbs can be grown in ground greenhouses with the maximum effect in Ukraine; but, such production requires large fixed costs. Not all producers can afford it.

The demand for fresh herbs and lettuces is growing year by year in Ukraine; so, the further development of the commercial production is considered to be effective.

At the present moment the prices for fresh herbs range as follows: dill and parsley cost $0.78-2.94/kg, lettuces - $1.17-2.54/kg, green onion - $1.76-2.35/kg. The market players forecasted the price growth for this produce in view of the supply reduction from small enterprises, and simultaneous increase of import supplies.