Their basic advantage is a lower price for most foods. When bananas cost 15-16 roubles per kg in stores and street outlets, they could be found here for 10 roubles. According to official statistics wholesale and open air markets account for almost half of total retail fruit sales in the Russian Federation. It is considered that the current financial crisis will modify the existing distribution system by reducing the number of mediator links. It may force large banana importers to descend to lower steps of the distribution chain - some of them already are engaged in retailing at storage sheds, wholesale markets and large stores.
Total consumption is assumed to equal imports less re-exports and losses.
Banana re-exports are negligible. In recent years volume was less than half of one percent of total imports. The level and dynamics of total and per caput banana consumption 16. Banana consumption patterns are greatly affected by such factors as residence, regional conditions and income levels. The population of the Russian Federation does not have a long-standing tradition of consuming bananas.