Worldwide vegetable production is growing faster than fruit production

The annual growth rate of worldwide fruit and vegetable production is 4%, and the annual volume has more than doubled over the last 25 years. Global production of fruits and vegetables totalled 0.62 billion tons in 1980, and could reach 1.47 billion tons in 2006. It is worth noting that vegetable production is growing faster than fruit production: vegetables accounted for 57% of the gross production in 1985, whereas a figure of 65% was reached in 2005. One of the strongest new producers of vegetables in the world is presently Ukraine. If account is taken of the annual production growth rate of 4% worldwide, Ukraine has the production resources to exceed this figure (Ukraine has recorded a production growth rate of up to 11% in recent years). Ukraine has the potential to become a valuable world supplier. The main challenges faced by growers in the Ukraine are increasing labour costs and the need to apply new production technologies, in order to remain competitive in the global market. In addition to this, Ukrainian producers will need to offer products with added value, in response to consumers' changing preferences, and to improve packing and produce distribution practices.