Ukraine's fruit and vegetable industry remains largely overlooked in European agricultural discussions, where the country's interests are represented predominantly by grain and oilseed producers.
Taras Mynko, head of the Ukrsadprom Association, raised the issue during a visit to Brussels under the DUALOG project, which focuses on the sustainable development of Ukraine's fruit and vegetable sector.
According to Mynko, European institutions and industry organisations have limited awareness of the challenges facing Ukrainian fruit and vegetable producers, as well as the sector's potential and needs.
"This highlights the need to establish permanent representation of the interests of Ukraine's fruit and vegetable sector at European level, particularly in cooperation with the European Parliament," Mynko said.
He also called for closer cooperation with European agricultural associations to help Ukrainian producers prepare for integration into the EU market.
"Such partnerships should help us navigate the European integration process together: exchanging experience, understanding regulatory changes in advance and preparing Ukrainian producers to comply with new requirements," he explained.
Mynko stressed that securing access to European markets is only part of the challenge. Ukrainian producers must also prepare for EU regulatory requirements, making legislative alignment and practical support for businesses essential to the sector's long-term competitiveness.
