The quality of vegetables and fruits in Russia had deteriorated after the introduction of the food embargo against Turkey, a research of the investment Bank Morgan Stanley (), who studied the effect of a possible lifting of sanctions against Turkey.
“We visited some of the Federal and regional networks for studying the quality of fruits and vegetables. We recognize that in the stores we visited, perhaps not a representative sample, but our store visits revealed a decline in the quality of fresh fruits and vegetables,” reads the report.
In the study Morgan Stanley draws attention to the fact that after the introduction of an embargo on some Turkish vegetables and fruit Russian retail chains have switched to import fruits and vegetables from North Africa and the Middle East. It is a fact, according to analysts of the investment Bank, led to the decline in quality and rise in price of these types of products.
Analysts say that the blame can hardly retailers. “Russia had to switch to countries in North Africa and the Middle East, such as Egypt, Morocco, Israel, Algeria, to replace products that are generally imported from Turkey (tomatoes, peppers, peaches, citrus, etc.). This implies more long distance delivery, which often leads to reduced quality and sometimes higher prices,” notes Morgan Stanley.
“If Russia does not cancel the ban on the import of fruits and vegetables from Turkey and will continue to import them from North Africa and the Middle East, the quality can be worse and the prices higher,” concludes the study.
Morgan Stanley also forecast that the lifting of the embargo on the Turkish products will not affect the level of inflation in Russia. Earlier, a similar forecast was made, Minekonomrazvitija. The representative of the Ministry said that in case of cancellation food embargo against Turkey should not expect an instant effect on inflation in Russia.
Morgan Stanley analysts also noted that Russian consumers in a significant devaluation of the ruble, which led to higher prices on imported goods, have to buy less fresh vegetables and fruits, especially imported ones. During the annual survey, which Morgan Stanley conducted in February 2016, 30% of respondents admitted that they were less likely to shop in supermarkets, a third of respondents were more likely to buy agricultural produce in the markets, more than 20% began to grow their own vegetables and fruit, and about 10% share products with friends and family.
