In October 2017, domestically produced VEGETABLE prices increased by 11.3% in month-to-month terms; this is the biggest increase since last January. The price gain compared to the same month in the previous year was a bit larger, and stood at 13.2%. Although in the last month the prices of greens and flowering plants went down by roughly one tenth of their September values, they did not offset the changes caused by the boost in Georgian tomato and potato prices.

In October 2017, compared to September 2017, Georgian tomato prices increased by more than half, while a similar change for potatoes exceeded 5%. As far as the difference between October 2016 and October 2017 prices is concerned, domestically produced tomatoes and potatoes were approximately one quarter more expensive in the last month than they were in October 2016.

Such a dramatic change in tomato and potato prices might be due to improved international trade figures. According to the GeoStat, in monetary terms, Georgia imported less tomato and potato in the first three quarters of 2017 than it did in the same period of the prior year, while the country exported 80% more tomato in the first three quarters of 2017 than it did for the entire year of 2016, and doubled potato exports.

Interestingly, the traditional export market for Georgian lamb, Azerbaijan, became the top export destination for the Georgian potato in 2017. It seems that the Azerbaijani people enjoy the Kufta-Bozbash made by products of Georgian origin – lamb meat and potatoes are the main ingredients of this delicious Azerbaijani dish!