According to the latest data, the share of Russian vegetables included in the so-called «borscht set» in stores currently reaches 90%.
Russia is almost entirely self-sufficient in the vegetables included in the borscht set.
Experts note that over the past year, the presence of imported vegetables such as potatoes, beets, carrots, onions, and cabbage has significantly decreased.
As for potatoes, the changes are particularly noticeable. Statistics show that the share of foreign products on Russian store shelves has almost halved over the past year, currently amounting to no more than 15-18%.
Imported potatoes come primarily from Egypt, Belarus, and Azerbaijan.
As for beets, almost the entire assortment in stores is supplied exclusively by Russian farmers.
Carrots and onions are 90% Russian-produced. Belarus also supplies a small amount of carrots to the Russian market.
Finally, 70% of white cabbage is Russian. The remainder is primarily supplied from Uzbekistan.
Experts emphasize that the main reason for these deliveries is that the cabbage harvest in Uzbekistan occurs at a different time than in Russia. As a result, the new Uzbek cabbage harvest arrives in Russian retail outlets well before the domestic harvest.
These trends clearly indicate that Russia’s plans to achieve complete self-sufficiency in key consumer goods are generally on track.
For example, the country was able to reduce potato imports by 20% over the course of a year. This was achieved thanks to Russia’s close approach to the Food Security Doctrine’s target indicators for vegetable self-sufficiency (89.6%, with a target of 90%).
As for potatoes, the required level has already been reached: the current self-sufficiency level is 97.9%, with a target of 95%.
However, certain challenges remain in the path to import substitution in vegetables.
For example, the farmers’ association recently appealed to the largest retail chains to increase their purchases of Russian potatoes, as they had significantly reduced their purchases in March, while offering very low prices, even below the cost of production.
Such behavior by retailers directly results in losses for farmers, the association emphasizes.
To avoid this in the future, farmers propose ensuring potato supplies to stores are maintained under previously signed fixed-price contracts.
