Citrus fruits price hike

The last few weeks have seen the price of citrus fruits rise in the local retail market, in particular locally produced tangerines, and to a lesser extent local oranges and lemons. Various reasons are given for the price increases. Some think that it is the result of the poor citrus harvest in 2010: in 2009 the Georgian citrus fruit harvest was more than 100 000 tonnes, while in 2010 it was only 50 000 tonnes. There has also been much speculation about the quality of the Georgian fruits, much of which is exported, mainly to Belarus, Ukraine and some to Central Asia.