EU announces support for growers hurt by Russian ban
August 19, 2014 | 04:42 PM
COPA-COEGA, the largest European farm and co-op group, today thanked the European Commission for introducing measures to help growers of perishable fruits and vegetables hurt by Russia’s ban on their products.
The products include tomatoes, carrots, white cabbage, peppers, cauliflowers, cucumbers, gherkins, mushrooms, apples, pear, red fruits, table grapes and kiwis.
“The markets for these products are in full season, with no storage option for most of them and no immediate alternative market available. Measures have also been taken by the commission for peaches and nectarines,” COPA-COGECA said in a news release.
The actions will include market withdrawals, especially for the free distribution of the products to charities, compensation for non-harvesting and green harvesting.
The aid will cover all producers whether they are part of an organizations or not. The measures took effect Monday and will run until the end of November. The EU budget for the program is €125 million, or about $167.3 million.
“We have been calling for this to avoid prices in the sector from collapsing altogether,” Copa-Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen said.
“Prices for these perishable products have been hit hard by the crisis, falling by up to 90 percent in some cases.” Pesonen said. “Prices for other products targeted by the ban are also coming under intense pressure.”
The products include tomatoes, carrots, white cabbage, peppers, cauliflowers, cucumbers, gherkins, mushrooms, apples, pear, red fruits, table grapes and kiwis.
“The markets for these products are in full season, with no storage option for most of them and no immediate alternative market available. Measures have also been taken by the commission for peaches and nectarines,” COPA-COGECA said in a news release.
The actions will include market withdrawals, especially for the free distribution of the products to charities, compensation for non-harvesting and green harvesting.
The aid will cover all producers whether they are part of an organizations or not. The measures took effect Monday and will run until the end of November. The EU budget for the program is €125 million, or about $167.3 million.
“We have been calling for this to avoid prices in the sector from collapsing altogether,” Copa-Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen said.
“Prices for these perishable products have been hit hard by the crisis, falling by up to 90 percent in some cases.” Pesonen said. “Prices for other products targeted by the ban are also coming under intense pressure.”
