Due to a significant labor shortage in Kharkiv farms last season, between 40 to 50 percent of strawberries remained unharvested. This may lead to an increase in prices for this berry in 2025. Experts also expect a rise in the cost of fertilizers, plant protection products, and electricity.
This is reported by Finway
Reasons for the Increase in Strawberry Prices
Iryna Pavlova, a consultant agronomist specializing in berry cultivation, notes that many farms in the Kharkiv region were unable to harvest their full crop due to a lack of labor.
“My colleagues from Sumy region also could not harvest their entire crop due to this factor,” the expert states.
She recommends planning ahead for the recruitment of workers for berry picking to avoid similar problems in the future.
Harvesting Features and Cost Increase
The expert also cited an example of a company in Rivne region that facilitates the recruitment of workers from a distance of 240 km using its own buses. This company manages 70 hectares of berry plantations, and up to 1000 workers are needed for harvesting in a single day.