The Peasants' Union explained why the price of vegetables used in borscht may rise
In the fall of 2026, prices for vegetables in the so-called “borscht mix” could at least double. This includes potatoes, beets, onions, and carrots.
This forecast was announced on Radio “Charter” by Ivan Tomych, head of the Union of Ukrainian Peasants. According to him, the price increase is linked not only to power outages and rising energy costs, which affect production costs, but also to weather conditions that could impact crop yields.
He also noted a critical decline in the number of farms in Ukraine engaged in vegetable cultivation. According to Tomych, this applies to both commercial farms and small family-run operations, which further constrains market supply.
“The most significant factor is that, as a result of the war and socio-economic problems, the number of small-scale farms—up to two hectares—has decreased sevenfold over the past five years. In some regions, the decline has been more than tenfold. In rural areas, there is almost no labor force capable of producing this product. The number of farms has decreased threefold over the past five years,” says Tomych.
Tomych describes the price of vegetables that shoppers see today on price tags in supermarkets and at markets as “liberal” compared to the cost of the 2026 harvest:
“This price will be very low compared to what it will be this fall. A sharp reduction in acreage in private farms and in vegetable crops overall. A cold to very cold spring, a series of frosts, and insufficient moisture in the vast majority of regions that produce vegetables. My forecast is unequivocal: there will be a significant price increase for these products this fall.”
And the price of last year’s harvest was affected by power outages in the winter and a sharp rise in fuel prices due to the war in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz:
“It’s only natural that the sharp rise in energy costs—specifically, power outages, the switch to generators, transportation, and storage—has significantly driven up the cost of food,” said Tomych.
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