Government to order top retailers to cut fruit, vegetable prices

MOSCOW, Jul 19 (PRIME) -- The Industry and Trade Ministry will order large retailers to cut their fruit and vegetable prices as the producers reduce them, Deputy Minister Viktor Yevtukhov said on Monday.

Chairman of the Presidium of the Association of Companies of Retail of Russia (AKORT) Igor Karavayev said that the vegetable prices were expected to decrease because a new harvest has started to arrive although a bit later than usual, in mid-July.

"Igor… has notified us today of a potential price decrease. We will surely ask the retailers, large retailers, to reflect the price reduction on the shelves, like we have always did. Last year especially, this year the same," Yevtukhov said.

According to Karavayev, the wholesale cabbage purchase prices fell by 12% on the month as of July 14, the potato price by 56%, onion by 11%, carrot by 30%, beetroot by 65%. But there is concern that the retailers would want to cover the accrued costs, and the price fall will stop.

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