Apples or peaches: the price dilemma of the season
11 August 2025 14:19
Apples are slowly becoming a luxury for Ukrainians. Despite the early season, prices are breaking records. The once most affordable fruit is now more expensive than bananas and oranges, as the average price of apples in Ukrainian stores is close to UAH 100 per kilogram as of early August. Ukrainian peaches have almost disappeared from the shelves, which also has an impact on the price on the shelves.
These two favorite fruits of Ukrainians have become so expensive that many people have to choose what to eat, because it is a bit expensive to buy a lot.
"Komersant Ukrainian" asked Oleksandr Khorev, coordinator of the EastFruit Weekly Ukraine project, to explain this unpleasant price situation.
According to the expert, the explanation for apples is quite simple and market-based: high prices for the first Ukrainian apples of the new season are formed due to the limited supply of fruit on the market.
Apples for 100 UAH: seasonality and demand
“Retail chains and wholesale companies operate at prices for consumers of more than 100 hryvnias per kg. If there are such prices, it means that there is a demand for these products at this price,”
– the expert noted.
Mr. Khorev emphasized that the market currently offers only early and medium apples, which are more seasonal than commercial. The high prices are formed due to the general situation in the fruit and berry basket – there are seasonal blueberries, plums, peaches and apricots on the market, but most items are not falling in price rapidly.
“No fruit and berry products are falling rapidly in price now. Raspberries are not falling too much these days, blueberries are not falling either, but there is a decrease because the supply is growing,”
– added the project coordinator.
Only melons and gourds remain relatively affordable – watermelons are fruitful in all regions of Ukraine, so their prices are more or less acceptable for consumers, the expert says.
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Peaches and apricots: import dependence and spring frosts
The high price of peaches is explained by their traditional shortage. And this, in turn, is due to the lack of appropriate farms. Khorev calls this a chronic problem of the Ukrainian fruit and vegetable industry.
“The commercial production of peaches and apricots has been a big issue throughout the existence of independent Ukraine. We do not have large farms,”
– Khorev explained.
According to him, producers cite climatic conditions, soil characteristics, and the specifics of growing these crops. Therefore, the existing production is mostly amateur:
“There are different varieties, but they are amateur production or gardens founded in the Soviet Union. These are not products. The peaches and nectarines we consume are generally 90% imported. Most of it is supplied to us by Turkey and other Southern European countries. We have no commercial production of these products.”
The situation with domestic peaches was further aggravated by the spring frosts of 2025, which destroyed almost all of their harvest, along with apricots, which are the earliest crops to bloom.
Currency factor and prospects
The expert also drew attention to the currency factor in the formation of fruit prices. Since we have to buy them abroad, we have to take into account the price of the national currency, which is constantly falling.
“This year we have set another anti-record, the hryvnia is devaluing, and this is all included in the price,”
– Mr. Khorev said.
Thus, the country remains dependent on stone fruit imports, and the market situation depends on the yields in the supplying countries and the absence of natural disasters that could affect export supplies.
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