Food security and the role of fruit and vegetable growing for its assurance
The trends of fruit, vegetable and berry production in Ukraine in the last years are analyzed in the article. The increase in productivity by 1.2-2.2 times compared to 1990 and 2000 has been registered. Fruit, vegetable and berry production has moved to private households, which accounted for 84.2-88.1 % in vegetable production and 73-84.2 % in fruit and berry production in 2009-2011. The reasons for recommended fruit, vegetable and berry provision by rational consumption standards are significant storage losses and underproduction of fruit and berries. To assure recommended rates of fruit and vegetable consumption as a component of the national Food Security it is necessary not only to increase their production but also to monitor their usage, increase their fresh storage and processing into preserved food. Tabl.: 3. Refs.: 23.