30 Tons of Apricots Stuck in Lars, Harvesting Halted, Says Exporting Company Director

This year we managed to export 100 tons of apricots, but the day before yesterday our two trucks carrying 30 tons of fruit were stopped after crossing the Georgian border. Vadim Gordienko, the director of Agrotorg, told News.am this in an interview.

“Our cargo had already crossed the Georgian border and was supposed to reach Russia, but yesterday afternoon our two trucks, which together were carrying 30 tons of apricots, were halted. We had already exported more than 100 tons this year, but now we have been forced to halt the ongoing harvesting,” said Gordienko. “We are in contact with our other partners, and this issue is widespread.”

According to the exporting company’s director, if the issue is resolved within 3-4 days, the trucks can wait in place, but if the resolution drags on, they will have to bring the cargo back and prepare dried fruits instead. “The likelihood that the apricots can last, for example, 10 days is low. The apricots come from various suppliers. Some farmers have properly cultivated their crops, and as a result, they will last longer, but there are also those who did not manage them well, so they will spoil quickly. However, it is also necessary to consider that once the road is reopened, a large number of trucks will be accumulating. If they announce that the road will be open in seven days, it does not necessarily mean that our cargo will be able to leave in seven days,” he emphasized. “Moreover, prices in the market are changing every day.”

According to Vadim Gordienko, they have already incurred losses since they pay farmers for the harvested fruits on site, and a deferred payment system is not operational. “In cooperation with the Russian side, it is possible that we won’t have to pay fines, as according to our contract, no fines are imposed in cases of force majeure. But in general, Lars has many infrastructural problems. We hardly face issues with the Georgian side, whereas there are always various problems coming from the Russian side. An alternative route is essential, or at least there needs to be a final solution,” stated Gordienko.

Recall that according to information obtained from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia's Emergency Department and the Crisis Management Center of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia in North Ossetia, the Stepantsminda-Lars road is closed to all types of vehicles. The Georgian Roads Department reported that the Terek River has overflowed due to heavy rains and flooded the highway between Georgia and Russia. The road is damaged at kilometer 136 of the Mtskheta-Stepanstinda-Lars international highway (neutral zone), with the damaged section being 80 km.

In an interview with News.am, the Ministry of Economy indicated that intensive work is being carried out with partners on both the Georgian and Russian sides of the Lars road to open the highway. At this time, it is not possible to specify deadlines. The Ministry of Economy does not specify when the Lars road will open.