Russia’s weak ruble has had an impact in nearly every aspect of the Russian economy, including the price of fruit which has in some cases increased more than 50%. 

Russia’s own sanctions on European food products have lowered the supply of certain fruit, compounding the increase in prices.

The country’s statistic service, Rosstat states that fruit prices in the country have increased from 30% to 50% in the 12 months since the currency crisis began.

Fruits such as bananas and apples have increased by around one third, with the cost of oranges showing the most dramatic rises, with a staggering 57.4% increase over the past year.

Russia imports nearly all of its fruit, much of which came from Europe prior to the sanctions being implemented. The sanctions were placed in retaliation to Western sanctions put on Russia over the annexation of Crimea and it’s support for rebel separatists in Eastern Ukraine.

Private Initiatives

There had been calls to grow fruit within Russia using greenhouses and other facilities. However, high interest rates combined with the recession has led to a lack of appetite for private investment in such projects.