Agriculture, Latvia, Markets and Companies, Retail

He said that only a small part of vegetable growers – about 5% – are involved in cooperation.

It would be best if the industry's representatives could reach agreement and unite into cooperatives in order to provide food supermarket chains with the necessary volume of produce.

According to the minister, the largest supermarket chains Rimi and Maxima are ready to place Latvian products on their shelves and keep them even if the prices are higher than those of foreign goods, leaving the choice up to consumers.

Meanwhile, the Latvian supermarket chain "Top!" is ready to procure vegetables for each individual store from local farmers.

As reported, two largest supermarket chains in Latvia, Rimi and Maxima refuse to buy local vegetables, indicating that they are too expensive, Chairman of the Farmers' Saeima, Juris Lazdins said earlier this month. Both Rimi and Maxima denied the allegation, as did the Agricultural Organizations' Cooperation Council.