Ukraine has the worst vegetable and fruit harvest storage in Europe.

Ukraine has the highest losses of harvested fruits and vegetables in Europe

In Ukraine, the highest losses of harvested fruits and vegetables in Europe are 40% due to the lack of proper storage facilities.

Losses due to lack of proper storage

The reason for high losses is the absence of properly equipped storage facilities. High post-harvest losses are one of the weak points of the Ukrainian fresh vegetables and fruits sector. The development of the fruit and vegetable sector could be a powerful tool for economic recovery and the development of rural areas, writes AgroPolit.com, citing data from the Ministry of Agrarian Policy.

Problems in the fruit and vegetable sector

It is hindered by a low level of mechanization compared to the EU, lack of storage facilities, absence of necessary certificates for export to the EU in small and medium-sized farms, and limited access to sales markets.

The role of cold chain logistics

Another important weak area is the high post-harvest losses of fruit and vegetable products due to the lack of properly equipped storage facilities, which can be addressed by promoting cold chain logistics as a post-harvest capacity.

Sales of produced products

Regarding the sale of produced fruits and vegetables, small and medium-sized farms often lack the necessary certificates for export to EU countries, as well as consistent access to the market, namely connections with numerous market channels that allow them to transition from local open-air markets to working with traders.