Georgia plans citrus fruit exports to Russian on Nov 10
TBILISI. Nov 5 (Interfax) - Georgia has commenced its citrus fruit harvest, which is forecast to be double the 2012 volume and reach over 100,000 tonnes.
The Agriculture Minister of the autonomous republic of Adjara, which accounts for almost 80% of Georiga's citrus fruit production, Zaur Putkaradze, told the press Adjara plans to harvest around 110,000 tonnes of mandarins, oranges and lemons.
"Exports of citrus fruits are expected to begin on November 10," he said, adding that the first consignment following a seven-year break will also go to Russia, whose market is already open to Georgian agriculture products.
Georgia will also export citrus fruit to Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Central Asia.
Prices will be regulated by the market, he said. "This will partly depend on the harvests in Spain, Greece, Croatia, Turkey and other countries that produce and export citrus fruit," he said.
Russian agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor on October 14 lifted restrictions on exports of Georgian fruit and citrus fruit to Russia. Previously, Georgia was only able to export agriculture products with a low phytosanitary risk to Russia, such as tea, nuts, bay leaves and dry fruit.
Russia banned imports of Georgian wine, mineral water and farm produce in 2006 due to quality concerns.
In February Russia and Georgia developed a plan to return the Georgian wines and mineral water to the Russian market, under which the supplies of Georgian alcohol and Borjomi and Sairme mineral water have already resumed.