While the harvest marks a seasonal climax, true agricultural success is measured months later by the quality and availability of produce reaching consumers. The strategic storage of over 350,000 tonnes of vegetables and potatoes in the Moscow Region demonstrates how advanced post-harvest infrastructure is the critical final link in the food security chain, transforming raw yield into stable, year-round supply.
The Moscow Region’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food recently reported the successful placement of the 2025 harvest into winter storage. A total of 348,500 tonnes of produce—comprising 215,500 tonnes of potatoes and nearly 133,000 tonnes of open-ground vegetables (beets, carrots, cabbage, onions)—has been secured. This strategic reserve is made possible by a formidable storage infrastructure network with a total capacity exceeding 724,000 tonnes. This network is precisely segmented into specialized facilities: 346.2k tonnes for potatoes, 208.8k tonnes for vegetables, 169.2k tonnes for combined use, and 1k tonnes for fruit, all equipped with modern ventilation and refrigeration to maintain optimal temperature and humidity.
This storage operation sits atop a robust production year. In 2025, the region harvested potatoes from approximately 12,000 hectares, achieving an average yield of 312 quintals per hectare (approx. 31.2 tonnes/ha) for a total output of 375,800 tonnes—an increase of 14,300 tonnes from 2024. Open-ground vegetables were harvested from over 6,000 hectares with a high average yield of 380 q/ha (38 t/ha), resulting in a gross yield of 232,900 tonnes. The decision to place 57% of the vegetable harvest and a significant portion of the potato crop into storage is a calculated move to manage market supply, reduce price volatility, and minimize post-harvest loss, which remains a global challenge. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), inadequate storage and handling can lead to losses of up to 40% for root crops and vegetables in some developing regions. The Moscow Region’s approach, utilizing controlled-atmosphere storage, directly mitigates such losses from rot, sprouting, and moisture loss, ensuring a higher percentage of the harvest ultimately reaches consumers.
The Moscow Region’s agricultural strategy provides a clear model: high yields are only the first step. Realizing the full economic and food security value of a harvest depends on the capacity and sophistication of post-harvest infrastructure. By investing in a large-scale, technologically advanced storage network, the region does more than just preserve food; it gains the power to regulate market flow, enhance producer profitability by avoiding glut-driven price collapses, and guarantee a steady, local supply of fresh produce for its population year-round. For agronomists and farm owners worldwide, this underscores that the season’s work is not complete at harvest. The final, and perhaps most crucial, agronomic intervention happens in the warehouse, where science and logistics work together to defend the quality and value of every tonne produced.
