Why are Dutch carrots cheaper than Belarusian ones?
“Imported potatoes and cabbage are also cheaper. People buy imported and domestic vegetables equally,” a shop surprised us.
Facebook users noticed that Belarusian carrots cost 8870 a kilo in Brest Korona. Dutch carrots are washed and clean and cost 100 roubles cheaper.
Why are Dutch carrots cheaper than Belarusian ones?
“Imported potatoes and cabbage are also cheaper. People buy imported and domestic vegetables equally,” Korona told us.
We asked the domestic supplier Plodaaharodnina about it.
“It happens. Imported apples cost the same even with the import duty and delivery. Early Macedonian and Polish cabbages were cheaper – the cost price was 6400 a kilo. Early Belarusian cabbages were bought for 12 thousands. Now they cost 4 thousands,” suppliers told Euroradio.
It turns out that Macedonian cabbages were twice cheaper than Belarusian ones. And the cost includes delivery! Suppliers buy early vegetables from farmers because collective farms have not grown any yet. That is why the prices are so high.
“All early vegetables and fruit are expensive in Belarus. We have to buy them from farmers. However, imported goods are usually cheaper at any time,” suppliers noted.
“Belarusian products may be more expensive if they are supplied by private farm enterprises. Imported vegetables are mass-produced,” Orsha farmer Adam Sapeshka said.
“Their agriculture is intensive and large-scale while the majority of our farmers own private farm enterprises and do not use chemicals,” Adam explained.
Framers often find it hard to work with shops because they demand steady prices. But the prices may change, he added.
“Shops send us contracts and demand to indicate a steady price, present an expensive certificate and supply as much as they order every day. What if I run out of the product? Moreover, the prices are changing every day! But they want a steady price. We did not reach any agreement with them,” Adam said. He exports his greens and onions to Smolensk.
Belarusians paid $780 thousand for imported carrots and turnips in the first four months of 2014, Belstat calculated. Most of the vegetables were imported from Poland and Lithuania.
Photo: agroimeks.com
