Russia: JSC Belaya Dacha Trading to build another 10 hectare greenhouse complex
Up to 500 tons of baby leaf greens, grown on 2 hectares, will be delivered to a factory producing pre-made green salads, and from there – to retail and restaurant chains. Investments in the project will amount to 6 – 8 million euros of company’s own funds. "Belaya Dacha" expects to collect the first greenhouses’ harvest in the spring 2016. At present, the company grows lettuce in the open ground from spring to autumn and imports it from Italy and Spain in the winter.
According to the CEO, "Pomidorprom" Roman Gulevsky, Southern Federal District is characterized by sudden temperature fluctuations and lack of moisture, which makes commercial cultivation in greenhouses beneficial.
The domestic market for leafy salads is far from saturation and consumption grows at 5-10% annually. European imports satisfy the market demand for about 250 thousand tons of leafy salads at 70%. Roman Gulevsky believes that supply of leafy salads to retailers in the Southern Federal District is risky due to the development of private farms and high prices (an average price is 100 rubles(≈ 2 €) for a pack). According to a representative of "Belaya Dacha", transportation to the Central District takes just 24 hours which makes it possible to deliver greenhouse production to Moscow and St. Petersburg – the country’s leaders in consumption.
Last year, "Belaya Dacha" put into operation a new plant in Alabuga (Tatarstan). The company owns already two enterprises in Moscow suburbs and intends to construct factories in Azov (Rostov region), Novosibirsk and near St. Petersburg.
Source: Vedomosti.ru
