Penza, 28 February 2018. PenzaNews. The head of the Sosnovoborsk area administration Vladimir Edalov turned to the governor of the Penza region Ivan Belozertsev with the request to assist in organizing the supply of local vegetables to medical and educational institutions.

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"We produce good vegetables. Our potatoes, beets, carrots are organic. We are ready to supply them as well as onions. [...] I would like to ask you to find a way for us to reach the local market – let's say kindergartens, schools, hospitals. We are local producers, these are us who should deal with our market. [...] Why not giving priority to us?" he noted at the meeting of the Association of Agricultural Producers of the Penza region held in the format of a business breakfast in the M.Y. Lermontov library on Wednesday, February 28.

Vladimir Edalov added that if necessary the farmers are ready to increase the volume of production to cover the needs of the market.

"We have purchased good imported machinery – a potato harvester, a sugar beet harvester. Our turnover is quite large," the head of the Sosnovoborsk area administration explained.

In turn Ivan Belozertsev reminded that he had wanted to promote Penza products long ago.

"It is clear that we cannot evade federal law No. 44 when bidding but we still have to look for opportunities to give priority to local producers under the same conditions. When potatoes are delivered from Tolyatti or Samara, there are transportation costs. At the same time potatoes are produced in our region, too. Theoretically, these are local producers that should get contracts without lifting prices," the region head noted.