The import of Turkish tomatoes to Russia, banned since 2016, may resume in October. On this on Monday, September 11, the newspaper Kommersant writes with reference to the sources familiar with the situation. According to the interlocutors of the publication, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rosselkhoznadzor are considering the possibility of experimental import of vegetables with a volume of up to 300 thousand tons. At the same time, the newspaper specifies, the government can not come to a common opinion on this issue. August 31, Minister of Agriculture of Russia Alexander Tkachev allowed the resumption of supplies of Turkish tomatoes in the upcoming winter-spring in small batches. "We see that all political issues are resolved, and, of course, we must resume our trade turnover," he said, refuting his earlier statements that Russia is not ready to buy Turkish tomatoes and will not do it. August 10 in the National Fruit and Vegetable Union estimated that in 2016 Russian tomato production increased by 18 percent, bringing the country's self-sufficiency in this culture to about 40 percent. At the same time, Turkey's losses after banning exports of tomatoes to Russia amounted to two billion dollars.

In 2015, the Turkish Air Force shot down the Russian Su-24 bomber, involved in the antiterrorist operation in Syria. After that, Russia imposed sanctions against Turkey, in particular, banning the import of a number of food products. In June 2016, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan apologized for the destruction of the Russian aircraft, after which Moscow began to lift restrictions. But the restriction on the import of Turkish tomatoes remains.

Original article: Turkish tomatoes predicted a return to the Russian market in October.