In 2025, Ukraine reduced the physical volume of organic berry exports by 12.5% compared to 2024—to 15,400 tons—but increased its value by 8.5%—to EUR39.8 million.
“Over the past two years, organic raspberries, strawberries, currants, and blueberries have remained the main export items,” said Iryna Fedorchenko, a leading export specialist at the organic production certification body “Organic Standard,” during a presentation of a study on the export of organic berries and nuts in 2024–2025 at the forum “Development of Exports in Ukraine’s Berry and Nut Sector” on June 10 in Kyiv.
She noted that Ukraine accounts for a significant share of organic berry exports to the EU. The largest buyers of Ukrainian products were Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, and Austria.
“We are second only to Serbia in raspberries. Ukraine accounts for about 20% of organic raspberry imports, and 30% for blackberries. Blueberries are our trump card, because almost all organic blueberries exported to the EU come from Ukraine,” said Fedorchenko.
Currently, there are 55 companies in Ukraine exporting organic berries to 18 countries worldwide.
According to the study, wild berries continued to form the bulk of last year’s shipments—11,800 tons worth EUR27.1 million—while 3,600 tons of cultivated berries were exported for EUR12.7 million.
The cultivated berry segment saw an increase in export value despite a decline in volume. For example, organic raspberry exports fell by 18.7% to 2,230 tons, but their value rose by 31% to EUR8 million.
Organic strawberry shipments decreased by 13% to 1,290 tons, while revenue rose from EUR3.4 million to EUR4.2 million. Exports of organic blueberries, on the other hand, increased more than 11-fold—from 8.1 tons to 91.8 tons—and their value rose from EUR0.1 million to EUR0.5 million.
According to Fedorchenko, the vast majority of Ukrainian organic berries are exported in frozen form. “It is very difficult for us to export fresh berries, especially when they are organic and untreated,” she emphasized.
Separately, the representative of “Organic Standard” noted changes in the structure of organic berry farming. The area under organic raspberries in 2025 increased to 842 hectares from 768 hectares a year earlier, and under blueberries—to 353 hectares from 337 hectares. In contrast, the area under strawberries decreased to 210 hectares from 309 hectares, and under cherries—to 54 hectares from 146 hectares. The total area of organic berry plantations decreased from 1,700 hectares to 1,600 hectares.
The study was conducted by the certification body “Organic Standard” in collaboration with the Office for Entrepreneurship and Export Development and the national project “Dія.Бізнес” with support from Switzerland as part of the Global Quality and Standards Program (GQSP Ukraine), implemented by UNIDO.
EXPORTS, organic berries, Organic Standard, RASPBERRIES, UKRAINE
Suspilne has announced its participation in the “Junior Eurovision 2026” song contest and will soon begin accepting applications.
“Singer and songwriter Svitlana Tarabarova will serve as the music producer for the national selection for the fourth time. This will be Ukraine’s 20th appearance at the international contest, which will take place this October in Malta,” according to a statement from “Suspilne.”
“Junior Eurovision 2026” will take place in Malta on October 24 at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali.
As previously reported, Ukraine’s representative Anastasia Dymyd placed 5th at the “Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023” in Nice (France), Artem Kotenko placed 3rd at the “Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024” in Madrid (Spain), and Sofia Nersesyan, with the song “Motanka,” took 2nd place at the “Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2025” in Tbilisi (Georgia).
Junior Eurovision, MALTA, national selection, UKRAINE, Суспільне
The third meeting of the Joint Ukrainian-Croatian Commission on Economic Cooperation took place on June 9, 2026, in Zagreb, according to the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Croatia.
The Ukrainian delegation, which included representatives from several ministries, was led by Ukraine’s Minister for Veterans Affairs, Nataliia Kalmykova. The Croatian side was represented by Croatia’s Minister of Economy, Ante Šušnjar.
Following the meeting, the parties signed a final protocol. A Memorandum of Understanding on physical activity and sports was also signed as part of the commission’s work.
During her visit, Kalmykova held working meetings with Croatian Minister of Economy Ante Šušnjar and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Croatian Veterans Tomo Medved, and paid tribute to the fallen defenders of Croatia in the 1991–1995 war.
The parties discussed the implementation of joint projects in the areas of veteran policy, energy, education and science, tourism and sports, as well as the preservation of cultural heritage in the face of external aggression.
For Ukraine, Croatia’s experience is of particular importance in the context of veteran policy, post-war recovery, and the reintegration of defenders into civilian life. Following the 1991–1995 war, Croatia established its own system of support for veterans, and this experience could be useful for Ukrainian government programs.
Ukrainian-Croatian economic cooperation also holds potential in the energy sector, infrastructure, tourism, humanitarian projects, and reconstruction.
Peace in Russia’s war against Ukraine can only be achieved through negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia, Europe, and the United States, according to a government statement delivered by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Bundestag on Thursday.
“Our goal for Ukraine remains a just and long-term peace that also takes our security interests into account. For this reason, we support Ukraine. That is the truth. We are doing this today and will continue to do so tomorrow, for as long as necessary,” Deutsche Welle quotes Merz as saying.
Merz stated that support for Ukraine includes a 90 billion euro loan approved by the EU and increased sanctions pressure on Russia; the German government supports efforts aimed at ending the war through negotiations.
“To counter Russia’s open willingness to escalate, we are strengthening NATO’s eastern flank. At the same time, we support efforts aimed at ending this aggressive war by Russia through negotiations. Lasting peace will only be achieved through negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia, the U.S., and Europe. There will be no other option,” the German chancellor noted.
“By waging a defensive war against Russia, Ukraine is also defending our freedom, as well as freedom and security throughout Europe,” Merz added. “After all, Ukraine is part of Europe. In the long term, it will also become part of the European Union,” he emphasized.
Assessing Ukraine’s path toward European integration, the chancellor noted that the country has made significant progress on the path of reforms.
“That is precisely why, a few days ago, I proposed granting Ukraine associate membership in the EU. This would mean Ukraine’s regular participation in EU Council meetings and meetings of the relevant ministerial councils. A Ukrainian commissioner, for now without a portfolio or voting rights, would become Kyiv’s representative in Brussels,” Merz once again explained the essence of his proposal.
On Thursday, June 11, the western and southeastern parts of the country will see brief showers and thunderstorms in some areas; in Zakarpattia and Prykarpattia, there will be moderate rain, with heavy rain in some places; the rest of the country will remain dry, according to the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center.
Winds will be predominantly southerly, 5-10 m/s. Nighttime temperatures will range from 13-18°; daytime temperatures from 23-28°, and in the far west of the country from 18-23°.
In Kyiv on June 11, no precipitation is expected. Winds will be southerly, 5-10 m/s. Temperatures at night will be 16-18°C, and during the day 26-28°C.
According to data from the Boris Sreznevsky Central Geophysical Observatory in Kyiv, on June 11, the highest daytime temperature was 33.7°C in 2010, and the lowest nighttime temperature was 6.3°C in 1952.
On Friday, June 12, across Ukraine—except for the far west—there will be brief showers and thunderstorms in some areas; in Khmelnytskyi, as well as during the day in most northern, central, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions, there will be moderate rain, with heavy rain in some areas.
Winds will be predominantly southerly, northwesterly in the west of the country, 5–10 m/s. Temperatures at night will be 13–18°, during the day 23–28°; in the western, Vinnytsia, and Zhytomyr regions, temperatures at night will be 9–14°, during the day 15–20°.
Weather forecast for Kyiv on June 12 – light rain at night, moderate rain during the day, with thunderstorms. Wind from the south, 5-10 m/s. Nighttime temperatures 16-18°, daytime temperatures 23-25°.
RAIN, THUNDERSTORMS, UKRAINE, Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, WEATHER
Prices for construction and installation work (CIW) in Ukraine rose by 19.9% in April 2026 compared to April 2025, according to the State Statistics Service (SSS).
According to the statistics agency, prices rose in all segments of construction from April 2025 to April 2026: in residential construction by 16.7% (up 2.1% from the previous month), in non-residential construction by 20.8% (2.9%), and in civil engineering by 20.5% (3.5%).
From January to April of this year compared to the same period last year, construction material prices rose by 12.4%, specifically in the residential sector by 11.1%, in the non-residential sector by 13%, and in civil engineering by 12.4%.
As reported, in 2025, construction material prices rose by 5.8% compared to the previous year, in 2024 by 7.9%, and in 2023 by 15.8%.
CONSTRUCTION, CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, PRICES, State Statistics Service, UKRAINE
