In May, the prices of apples and grapes continued to rise: how much Ashan, Metro, and Varus are offering.

Ukrainians are facing rising prices for apples and grapes. Even with demand for these fruits, their cost in stores keeps increasing. Many people are forced to limit their consumption of these fruits or even give them up entirely due to the high price.

'Out of season' — this phrase is increasingly heard at supermarket checkouts as customers regretfully return bags of fruits. Grapes, in particular, have become significantly more expensive, with the average price rising from 242.78 hryvnias per kilogram in April to 283.33 hryvnias in May. The most expensive grapes were found at Megamarket, where a kilogram costs a shocking 364.50 hryvnias.

Prices for apples have also increased. Premium varieties, such as Aydared, now cost an average of 55.80 hryvnias per kilogram, which is more than in April (50.96 hryvnias). However, Ukrainian apples have decreased in price from 46.94 to 40.35 hryvnias per kilogram. The price discrepancies across different retail chains are also striking: from 29.02 hryvnias at Metro to almost 50 hryvnias at Novus.

Recently, the prices for butter, eggs, and cheeses have also risen in Ukraine. The increase in food prices is becoming a problem for many Ukrainians who are forced to change their consumer habits due to higher food expenses.

Analysis

The prices of apples and grapes continue to rise in Ukraine, negatively impacting consumers. Popular fruits are becoming increasingly unattainable due to rising prices. This could affect people's health as limiting fruit consumption may lead to an unbalanced diet. There is a pressing need to find alternative sources of vitamins and minerals that may be more budget-friendly. Reducing prices on fruits and other food items is an important task for authorities and businesses to support national health and ensure accessibility of seasonal products for all social strata.