Ukraine is one of the leading world producers of agricultural products with a huge export potential. Favorable climate and geographical location provide opportunities for successful fruit production, mainly apples, plums, cherries and sweet cherries, apricots, pears, and berries. With the onset of aggression in eastern Ukraine, local growers lost their main market for their crops. This significantly weakened the industry's position, but Ukrainian companies are actively looking for new markets for their products.

In 2017-2018, the Association Ukrsadprom, which brings together leading fruit and berry producers throughout Ukraine, has initiated and organized the stands of Ukraine at the world's largest exhibitions, including Asia Fruit Logistics in Hong Kong and Fruit Logistics in Berlin, as well as provided Participation of fruit producers at the Ukrainian stand at the Galfood Exhibition in Dubai. The First Aggregating Company of Fruits’ Producers in Ukraine "AUSP FRUT" presented Ukrainian producers there. Having the opportunity to communicate closely with potential international partners during these exhibitions, the Ukrainian representatives identified the strategic markets, so that AUSP FRUT team has begun systematic work with.

"Opening up new markets is not a simple but very important matter, because we must not only acquaint potential consumers with the advantages of our products, which has unique tastes and flavors, thanks to favorable climatic conditions and unique Ukrainian black soils, but also to assure the purity of products, which,  already confirmed by the British and Swedish laboratories, and assuring the ability of Ukrainian producers to fulfill their contractual obligations qualitatively, "said Volodymyr Gurzhiy, expert on export markets of AUSP FRUIT.

The experience gained by Ukrainian companies, including through participating in these exhibitions, was realized in the first systemic supply of apples to Dubai (UAE). There was reached a contract with local company from Dubai. The fresh Gala apples, a 2017 crop, sold  in accordance with the mandatory requirements for the quality of the product: the firmness of the apples, which should correspond to at least 7 kg / cm2, the color of the fruits - not less than 70% of coloration, also the manufacturer had to use certain post-harvest technologies to extend the shelf life of fruits. The buyer requested to get apples in cardboard boxes such as bushels, net weight 18 kg.

 

The company "AUSP FRUIT" has developed its own packaging design, which should not promote a separate producer, but namely a product called "Ukrainian Apples".

In the period from December 2017 to January 2018, the producer shipped 125 tons (8 containers). The average shipping time by the sea was 27 days.

There were no complaints under the contract, and the buyer has already ordered a large batch of apples for the next season.

According to the information received from the Association "Ukrsadprom", this was the first supply of apples from Ukraine to the UAE in this volume.

At the moment, AUSP FRUT company is actively contracting fruits and berries  for the 2018 season, as the interest of international traders has turned out to be quite significant, and in order to cover the corresponding demand, it is necessary to aggregate large volumes of crops of the export class. In the 2018-2019 season, suppliers plan to increase trade volumes up to 20 thousand tons. The technologies used in post-harvest application along with the packing of apples, allow to ensure the preservation of their high quality for at least 60 days of sea shipping.

For more information please contact:

Volodymyr Gurzhiy, CCO, USPA FRUIT LLC

Sichovykh Striltsiv street, 77

Kyiv, Ukraine

04053

Tel: +380 44 232 22 68

Cell / WhatsApp / Viber: +380 50 925 57 32

E-mail: [email protected]

WEB: www.uspafruit.com

Representing orchards-members of Ukrsadprom Association

WEB: www.ukrsadprom.org