Vegetables from VITAGRO's plantations are already on the Ukrainian market

Vegetables from the plantations of VITAGRO agricultural holding are already on the market of Ukraine

Today, vegetable growing has become a strategic industry in Ukraine. We, the agricultural producers, are aware of the importance of providing the population with fresh vegetables, so we continue to develop this sector and provide Ukrainians with products that are not only tasty but also healthy.

Growing vegetables is a complex process that requires adherence to sowing, care, harvesting, and storage technologies. This year, VITAGRO has allocated 50 hectares of land for vegetable production: 30 hectares for onions, 10 hectares for carrots, and 10 hectares for beetroot. Most of the processes are mechanized, which makes the work much easier.

Despite the difficult weather conditions, critical lack of moisture, and abnormally high temperatures, we have achieved impressive harvests, even better than last year. We mainly grow varieties such as Shantane, Eleganza, and Cascade, which store well. The carrot harvest is now complete; we have managed to sell some of the produce to supermarkets, while the rest has been stored in vegetable stores in anticipation of a better price.

«Working with supermarkets can sometimes feel like a lose-lose situation when it comes to getting products on their shelves. However, if we do not supply them regularly, our competitors will take our place. That’s why we deliver to the chains as soon as our products are ready, even at slightly lower prices,» says agronomist Oleksandr Baran.

Currently, we are harvesting onions, and the initial yield is proving to be higher than last year's. Despite facing challenges, including a labor shortage, we are maximizing our productivity during the good weather by introducing new technologies that help us complete the harvest quickly and efficiently. The harvested onions are stored in a specialized warehouse leased from Continental Farmers Group, which is equipped with a dryer and grading line to meet the specific storage requirements for onions.

After the onion harvest, we will prepare for the beetroot harvest, which we hope will match or exceed last year’s results. Given our limited experience, we have carefully selected varieties that are suitable for our climate and soil conditions, and we have improved our growing techniques.

In terms of marketing, we plan to sell some of our vegetables through direct contracts with supermarkets. Our relationship with domestic retail chains is ongoing, so we do not anticipate any major changes. The remaining produce will be stored until spring, as prices tend to be more favorable during that time, and our storage facilities allow us to keep carrots and beetroot.

«Next year, we plan to continue sowing vegetables, focusing on improving irrigation to ensure high and stable yields. In light of changing climate conditions, we will select appropriate planting material and adopt new technologies. We are committed to bringing fresh vegetables to grocery shelves,» concludes Oleksandr Baran.