Main points
- Ukraine may face a shortage of apricots and peaches due to prolonged cold weather that destroyed a significant part of the harvest in the central and southern regions.
- Prices for these fruits could increase by 20 to 80 percent due to insufficient import volumes from Turkey, Greece, Spain and Moldova.
Peaches and apricots are becoming more expensive / Photo Pixabay
A cold spring could seriously affect Ukraine's stone fruit harvest. Experts are already warning of a shortage and a significant increase in prices for these types of fruit.
Frosts destroyed the harvest: which regions were hit the hardest?
In 2026, Ukrainian gardeners may face a sharp drop in the yield of stone fruits due to prolonged February-April cold weather, UNIAN reports. According to experts, apricot losses could reach 40 to 60 percent, and peach losses could reach 30 to 50 percent compared to average figures.
The central and southern regions of the country, where trees bloom earlier and are more vulnerable to temperature fluctuations, have been hit hardest. Weather anomalies have destroyed more than half of the flower buds in some places, which will directly affect the future harvest.
Experts emphasize that the situation could lead to a significant reduction in supply on the domestic market in the coming months.
Will imports save the day and how much will prices rise?
Despite expectations for imports, it will not be possible to fully compensate for the deficit. The main suppliers of stone fruits for Ukraine traditionally remain Turkey, Greece, Spain and Moldova, but their volumes may be insufficient in the event of a significant crop failure.
As a result, prices for apricots and peaches could increase significantly. In a moderate shortage, the price increase would be approximately 20 to 30 percent, while in a worst-case scenario, it would be up to 50 to 80 percent.
Thus, the Ukrainian fruit market in 2026 risks facing not only a shortage of products, but also a significant increase in prices for consumers.
The season is open: strawberry sales have started in Transcarpathia
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In Transcarpathia, the sale of strawberries grown in greenhouses with additional shelter with agrofiber has begun, which allows for an earlier harvest.
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The high price of the first strawberries is due to significant production costs and limited supply, but it is expected to decrease in early May.