Belgians #ShareAPear to support farmers after Russian import ban
Europeans encourage consumption of local fruits and vegetables to compensate for loss of Russian market.
Belgians are taking “pear selfies” to support local farmers after Russia announced a ban Thursday on Belgian pears, among other foods from the EU and the US. The import ban comes in response to Western sanctions imposed against Russia last week to punish the country for its role in Ukraine’s crisis.
The ban is of particular concern for Belgian pear farmers, as Russians bought nearly 40 per cent of their pears last year, totaling some $127 million. With the new ban in place, Belgian farmers worry they may not be able to find new customers for their September-October selling season.
Using #ToffePeer and #ShareAPear, citizens are taking “pear selfies” and calling on Belgians to eat more pears. According to local reports, if each Belgian eats one extra pear a week, they could compensate for the potential loss in profit from the Russian ban.