In Brest, Belarus, fresh cucumbers are grown all year round thanks to modern greenhouses with additional lighting. Even in winter, residents can buy fresh vegetables at affordable prices.
The "Berestye" greenhouses in Brest use powerful lamps to grow crops year-round. A recently modernized 4-hectare area now produces "Meva" cucumbers, which adapt well to winter. The lighting stays on during cloudy days to support growth. Cucumbers have been grown continuously for two years, and soon, the same method will be used for tomatoes, with the harvest expected by December.
Greenhouse workers note that working conditions are improving, and stable winter harvests allow them to earn higher wages.
The expansion of production is part of the state program "Agricultural Business" for 2021–2025. Around 20 million rubles have already been invested. These funds have been used to install 12,000 lamps, build transformer stations, and upgrade electrical networks. In the future, a packaging facility will be opened to extend the shelf life of products.
The director of the greenhouse complex, Alexander Radkovets, said that in December 2024, 100 tons of cucumbers were supplied to stores, and in January 2025, this number increased to 120 tons. The volumes will continue to grow as more crops are harvested. The government also supports greenhouse farming by reducing electricity tariffs by more than 20%.
Belarus aims to cover 80% of the domestic tomato market with local production by 2027. The "Berestye" greenhouses have been using a soil-free growing method for 25 years. This allows them to harvest 75–80 kilograms of cucumbers and over 50 kilograms of tomatoes per square meter.
In the next two years, new greenhouses with automated plant care systems are planned. This will help further increase vegetable production, especially during the winter months.
Source: www.sb.by