In order to stabilize prices for basic foodstuffs, the Potato Union sent a request to the Association of Retail Companies (AKORT) and the Union of Independent Chains (SNS) to introduce into the assortment "economy class" potatoes, the diameter of tubers of which will be from 35 to 55 mm. The product is offered to be packed in nets of 2,5, 3 and 5 kg. Tatiana Gubina, the head of the Potato Union administration, told reporters of the Komersant newspaper.
“Retailers now have strict sizing requirements for each batch, so farmers have to sort the roots by size. If unsorted potatoes are packaged, producers will be able to save up to 50% at the packaging stage, which will help to stabilize prices, ”said Tatiana Gubina.
On January 20, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation discussed the rise in the cost of potatoes. It was indicated that over the year the average price for this product increased by 40%, including due to a decrease in yield, but Tatyana Gubina points out that the price of potatoes is fair, and the reason for the current growth is the low base effect.
The initiative of the Potato Union was supported by the AFG National holding: “The implementation of this proposal will allow the introduction of significant volumes of high-quality potatoes into trade, which are now falling out of it due to the non-standard size. This will help limit the growth in the cost of the product ”.
According to AKORT, negotiations on the sale of smaller potatoes are already underway. The Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation believes that the inclusion of potatoes with a caliber of 35–55 mm in the assortment of nets will allow expanding the offer of products for consumers, and confirmed that they have applied to the Ministry of Industry and Trade with a request to support the producers' initiative.
Earlier, the Association "Greenhouses of Russia" and the Potato Union of Russia expressed their readiness to fix the cost of their products in the framework of the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 14, 2020 No. 2094, No. 2095, No. 2096, No. 2097 on reducing and maintaining at a normal level of prices for certain types of the most demanded goods.