The European Commission is trying to assess the damage caused by the Russian food embargo on Greek peach and nectarine producers as well as on their competitors in southern Europe. Local farmers however are concerned about the thousands of tons of produce that is sitting in wait after 50,000 tons of peaches were sent back to Imathia, Greece, alone last week with Russian companies canceling orders. Apart from produce idly sitting in refrigerators around the country, there are also thousands of tons of uncollected fruit in orchads now that demand has suddenly plummeted due to the fact that 50% of Greek fruit and vegetable exports.

Farmers are waiting for Brussels to reach a decision this week. On Friday, socialist PASOK Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos said that the decision will allow “the smooth operation of international trade to resume”.