The first batch of locally grown garden strawberries arrived on the markets of Western Ukraine.

Greenhouse farms began picking berries last week, and commercial strawberry lots were formed ahead of Easter holidays. Analysts at the Info-Shuvar information center report that this year manufacturers from the Transcarpathian region opened the season at least a week earlier than last year. Farmers expect high demand for berries before Easter.

The likelihood that their expectations will coincide with reality is very high. As previously reported, Ukrainians began to consume more berries out of season, including increased consumption of strawberries. In the largest wholesale market in the West of Ukraine, imported strawberries have been successfully sold since the beginning of winter.

But the Ukrainian consumer is patriotic, so he would rather give money for goods produced domestically than for imported goods. Moreover, starting prices for strawberries this season are lower than last year.

According to Info-Shuvar analysts, the first strawberries grown in Transcarpathia are sold on the Shuvar ORSP market at 100-120 UAH / kg. In 2018, in the last week of April, the Ukrainian berry cost at least 20% more.