Russia is considering boycotting Turkish lemon, grapefruit and pumpkin
The Rosselkhoznadzor, the Russian phytosanitary inspection service, is considering a full boycott on all Turkish fruit and vegetables. New sanctions could already be enforced next week. The reason for this is that inspections "are still forcing the authorities to put Turkish products in quarantine." Last November Russia imposed a partial boycott on Turkish fruit and vegetables after Turkey brought down a Russian fighter plane. Earlier this year, the list was expanded to peppers, pomegranates and aubergines for phytosanitary reasons. This month, Turkish lettuce and iceberg lettuce were added to the list for the same reason. If next week's boycott is enforced, it will probably affect lemons, grapefruit and pumpkin.
Ukraine summit comes to nothing
The summit to address the conflict in eastern Ukraine has failed. "Unfortunately, we could not reach an agreement on several crucial points," said the Ukrainian Foreign Minister after the summit.
Falling prices in Ukraine
Between 30 April and 6 May, the price of fruits and vegetables in Ukraine has fallen by 20.6 percent, as reported by Fruit-Inform. Over the previous three weeks, prices have dropped by an average of 43.5 percent. The prices of early cabbage, cucumbers and strawberries have halved. The fall in prices could have been even higher if onions and beets had not become 10 and 7.7 percent more expensive, respectively.
For the first time this season, the price of the new cabbage harvest has fallen below that of the old harvest. As a result, demand for this early cabbage has grown very quickly. Prices for the old crop have fallen precisely also because of lower demand.
Moldova seeks rapprochement with Russia
The Moldovan Prime Minister held a meeting with the Russian ambassador to the country to discuss the possibility of resuming the export of fruits and vegetables. The two countries want to work together at different levels. Special attention was given to the resumption of exports. To this end, the authorities of both countries should work together to overcome any technical barriers.
Boycott gives a boost to Russian cuisine
The boycott on European fruit and vegetable is giving a boost to the Russian cuisine. Moscow restaurants are doing well with Russian menus. Many products and dishes that were previously common, but had lost popularity because of imports, are now back on the map. Restaurants in the Russian capital that cater to this trend are seeing an increase in the number of customers. There are reports that, for some establishments, it is necessary to book one week in advance.