MOSCOW, September 24 (RIA Novosti) – The import of peaches from Turkey to Russia has increased 72 times, after Moscow imposed a ban on food imports from Western countries in response to sanctions, the Head of Russia's Federal Customs Service Andrei Belyaninov said Wednesday.
"We're seeing a 4.5 times increase of apple imports from Serbia and Ukraine, the import of peaches from Macedonia has increased 1.8 times, peaches from Serbia - 3.8 times, peaches from Turkey - 72 times," Belyaninov said at the parliament session.
"The productivity of peaches and apples in these countries has increased dramatically," he added.
On August 7, Moscow imposed a ban on food imports from the United States, the European Union, Canada, Australia and Norway in response to economic sanctions imposed on Russia over its alleged role in escalating the Ukrainian crisis.
The ban, targeting meat, fish, poultry and dairy products, and well as nuts, fruits and vegetables, is expected to last for one year.
