Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Producers Should Keep a Close Eye on Competitors in the EU Market

This opinion was expressed by experts of the Ukrainian Horticultural Association.

They explained that European buyers expect stable quality, uniform batches, predictable volumes, proper certification, appropriate packaging, compliance with the cold chain and the ability to fulfill contracts within agreed deadlines.

This is especially important for berries, apples, stone fruits, vegetables, frozen and processed products, where post-harvest losses, unstable quality or weak packaging can significantly reduce export margins, the UHA emphasized.

«European buyers expect not only a competitive price, but also product uniformity, predictable volumes, certification, proper packaging, cold chain compliance and the supplier’s ability to fulfill agreements on time. Amid the war, expensive logistics, a lack of investment and a shortage of personnel, it is especially important for Ukrainian fruit and vegetable businesses to see what technologies competitors are already using, what products Mediterranean and Latin American countries are promoting, how industry associations operate, what bio-solution suppliers offer and what requirements European retail is setting,» said Kateryna Zvierieva, Development Director of the Ukrainian Horticultural Association.