Georgia’s vegetable market is facing continued price pressure, with local produce also expected to remain expensive this season. According to the director of the “Imeri” vegetable and melon company, Givi Kiknadze, rising costs are driven by unstable weather conditions and higher prices for imported goods, particularly from Turkey.
Kiknadze notes that imports play a significant role in shaping domestic prices. In just four months, Georgia imported around $5 million worth of cucumbers, which he links to price increases in Turkey itself, partly due to strong domestic demand from its tourism sector. This has, in turn, pushed up overall vegetable prices in the Georgian market.
Weather volatility remains a key factor, according to the company. Heavy rains delay harvesting, reduce supply, and immediately drive prices upward. As a result, products such as tomatoes that would normally cost 2–2.5 GEL are currently selling for around 5–6 GEL due to delayed harvests and lower output.
Labour shortages are adding further pressure on supply chains. Kiknadze says that in some cases, workers are unavailable during peak harvesting periods, including holidays, which limits production capacity and contributes to price increases across the market.
