Chat with Ksenia

Ksenia Evdokimova has worked with U.S. produce exporters in developing the Russia market, and she was also helpful to me when I traveled there earlier this year. Yesterday I had the opportunity to catch a quick "chat" with Ksenia about the latest from the Russian market place.


me: Ksenia, how are you

Ksenia: hi (=

busy as usual

how are you?

me: I'm doing well. I just talked to John Rice who went to Russia in May. We were talking about how Russian importers are still strong buyers of apples, lately from the Southern Hemisphere

2:44 PM How is your business going?

2:46 PM Ksenia: Very busy preparing for the season of US pears, apples and grapes, talking to retail about promotions, importers about educational materials, learning preferences, new tendencies and ideas

me: Very good - any big changes this year for the importers or retailers?

2:47 PM For example, are smaller sizes more in vogue?

2:49 PM Ksenia: Consumers seek education and are open to new products. Still big sized fruits are in favor, but who knows how fast this can change. Just a few years ago we didn't think that we would eat out in restaurants almost every week - now it is happening more than once. Russians pick up new ideas quickly and preferences can change

2:50 PM me: Any idea on how many Russians will be coming to PMA?

2:52 PM Ksenia: Definitely more than 10 Russian companies would send their representatives, which can be more than 20 people in total to attend. Group has already started to prepare for the trip and we are excited about the upcoming event as well as upcoming season

TK; Ksenia also had a hand in preparing the recent report about the Russian organic market, noted in this post.