Retailers refuse to buy Russian bulk potatoes, and this is very worrying for the Union of Vegetable Producers. Due to the fact that retailers want to trade in imported products, citing the low quality of local products, Russian producers may lose about 6 billion rubles a year.
The National Fruit and Vegetable Union has already reported this in a letter to the Ministry of Agriculture, Kommersant writes with reference to a letter addressed to Yevgeny Nepoklonov. Market participants are asked to help ensure access of Russian potatoes to chain stores and prevent competition restrictions. The letter said that Pyaterochka, Perekrestok, Karusel (all are part of the X5 Retail Group), Lenta and Billa stores refused Russian potatoes. Trading networks rely on tubers from Azerbaijan, Egypt and Israel.
Source: https://www.business.ru