Results of EastFruit monitoring show prices for herbs in Georgia reached an unusually high level in January and February 2021. Georgian growers claim the issue is not about Georgian suppliers, but about the situation in international markets as well as logistical difficulties.

“The current season, which began in November 2020, has proven to be one of the most successful for Georgia’s herbs producers,” notes Katerina Poberezhnaya, a consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Results from EastFruit’s weekly monitoring of wholesale prices show dill has risen in price most of all increasing 3 times in early February from $0.68/kg in 2020 to $2.13/kg in 2021. Cilantro (coriander) has risen by 50% from $1.00/kg in 2020 to $1.52/kg in 2021. Wholesale parsley has become 60% more expensive compared to the previous year with prices reaching $2.13/kg.

Watch video: Culinary Herbs of Georgia: dill, parsley, coriander – growing, cooling, packing for exports

Official retail price statistics also confirm the price spike. According to Geostat, retail prices for herbs increased by 27% in January 2021 compared to 2020. This is 4.5 times higher than the growth in prices for other food products and 9 times higher than the rate of inflation in Georgia. Thus, in the food group, fresh herbs are among the top five leaders in terms of price growth rates.

Georgia usually exports 50-60% of the fresh herbs produced in the country. The assortment of Georgian herbs is quite traditional – cilantro, parsley, and dill. Since Russia is the main sales market for Georgian herbs, the situation with supply and demand in this particular market affects the prices of herbs in Georgia.

As of February 12th, herbs prices also increased on the Russian market. EastFruit monitoring data revealed wholesale prices for dill almost doubled over the year from $2.07/kg to $4.11/kg and rose for parsley from $2.23.kg to $4.24/kg. Wholesale prices for herbs in Ukraine are also at a record high for this time of the year; they increased by at least one third compared to last year.

The largest suppliers of herbs to Russia are Uzbekistan and Iran. Historically, Uzbekistan has exported to Russia at least five times more herbs than Georgia. According to EastFruit, as of February 12th, prices for dill from Uzbek producers increased 12 times during the year from $0.52/kg to $6.17/kg. In general, snowfalls and logistic issues due to harsh weather conditions were the main reasons for the active growth in prices for herbs, which were noted in January in many countries of the project’s monitoring. Besides the weather, Uzbekistan also had problems with heating greenhouses, which gave some additional advantage to Georgian producers. Thus, the rise in prices in Georgia is likely to be temporary and will last until production in Russia and supplier countries recovers. After that, supplies will rise and prices will begin to fall.

In addition, it should be taken into account that Russia is increasing its own production. In 2020, its domestic production of herbs increased by 17.6% compared to 2019. Russia’s imports of herbs in 2020 fell by 47% mainly due to problems with logistics. Herbs exports from Georgia to Russia decreased by 26% per year. Of note is the sharp increase in the supply of fresh herbs from North Macedonia to Russia – this country almost caught up with Georgia in 2020 in terms of herbs exports.

As world experience shows, the coronavirus pandemic has stimulated the population of almost all countries of the world to actively switch to healthier approaches to nutrition and consume more fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh herbs are considered one of the most useful foods so their consumption is also actively growing.

We expect high prices to spur Georgian farmers to expand their herbs production in the coming season. Accordingly, we do not exclude that these factors will put pressure on prices in the future. Bear in mind that, as FAO experts have already noted, Georgia mainly concentrates on growing the two cheapest types of herbs and supplies them mainly to the country with the lowest prices for these types of herbs.

The current price extremes can be seen as a temporary opportunity for Georgian producers to boost revenues. If these revenues are converted into a new product line that includes globally promising basil, chives, mint, arugula, and other crops along with post-harvest refinement and marketing, such spikes could have long-term positive effects.

In the meantime, unfortunately, the approaches to the cultivation, packaging, and logistics of herbs in Georgia remain traditional and extremely ineffective, which can be seen with your own eyes in this video. Naturally, with such approaches, it will be rather difficult for Georgia to successfully compete in price on the Russian market with suppliers from Iran and Uzbekistan. In fact, the low technological level of production and inefficiency of processing, cooling, and logistics prevent Georgian herbs exporters from accessing the EU markets, where full traceability using GlobalGAP certification for production and HACCP certification for processing and packaging are required.

Сообщение Record prices for herbs in Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia – will Georgia seize the opportunity? появились сначала на EastFruit.

The production area of feijoa, which is an exotic fruit for our region, is rapidly growing in Georgia. This crop has become especially popular among farmers in the Samegrelo region where today almost all residents have at least a few feijoa bushes in their backyards. Locals like this fruit and the demand for it in other regions of Georgia is also increasing. Feijoa is an excellent source of iodine unlike any other plant product in the world.

To understand why Georgia became interested in feijoa, EastFruit turned to Zviad Bobokashvili, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences of Georgia. Together with Katerina Poberezhnaya, an international consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), they prepared an interesting video about feijoa, in which you can find out all the details about this interesting and promising crop and how it grows and blooms in Georgia.

EastFruit video about feijoa from Guria in Georgia:

Feijoa was introduced to Adjara and Abkhazia in Georgia at the beginning of the twentieth century. Dr. Bobokashvili says that by 1940 there were about 160 hectares of feijoa in Georgia; now it has grown to 360-400 hectares. The main areas of feijoa are concentrated in Western Georgia in the regions of Zugdidi, Lanchkhuti, Kobuleti, Khobi, and Samtredia. Also, some trees are found in the eastern regions of Sagarejo, Gurjaani, Lagodekhi, and Marneuli.

There are very few industrial plantings of feijoa, most are grown in personal plots. However, in Megrelia (Western Georgia), the first industrial plantations of feijoa are appearing because the yield reaches 15-20 tons per hectare. Feijoa is mainly grown in Georgia on the Black Sea coast because this fruit has a low cold resistance and is damaged by frosts at 10-12 degrees below zero. (Read more about the technology of growing feijoa at the end of this article.)

An interesting fact is that feijoa is pollinated not only by insects but by birds as well. Even feijoa flowers are delicious. The flowers are what attract birds, but people also love the taste of feijoa flowers.

Feijoa has good prospects in the organic segment. The plant does not have very many pests and diseases in Georgia so it can also be grown organically. This will further increase the value of the fruit when exported to countries where organic is already an established trend.

Considering the area expansion, the production of feijoa in Georgia is growing rapidly. According to EastFruit analysts, Georgia is actively increasing the export of feijoa. In 2019, the export of Georgian feijoa almost doubled reaching 400 tons. The main market was Ukraine where 235 tons of these exotic fruits were sent. Armenia was also a major buyer. Supplies of feijoa were mainly made to the markets of neighbouring countries since this fruit is not very transportable. Recently, export shipments of feijoa from Georgia to Russia, Slovenia, and Belarus have also been registered. If a system is developed to finalize the data for these exotic fruits, then it is possible that Georgia will be able to make good money on exporting feijoa to EU countries.

Superba and Coolidge are the most widespread varieties of feijoa in Georgia. Superba is an Australian variety characterized by medium-sized fruits weighing 30-50 grams with a rounded, smooth surface, medium-ripe variety, requires cross-pollination, and is characterized by high yields. Coolidge is also an Australian variety that is medium-sized, average fruit weight of 40-60 grams with an elongated elliptical shape and slightly woody skin, early-medium maturity variety, self-pollinated, and characterized by high yields.

Other industrial varieties of feijoa, which are also widely cultivated, are Triumph, Mammoth, Trask (improved clone of Coolidge), Choyesana, Nezamets, and others. Georgia should pay attention to the more transportable and lighter varieties that are now appearing among breeders particularly in New Zealand. This would allow Georgia to increase the export of feijoa to the EU countries.

It is noteworthy that the production of feijoa on a commercial scale is relatively rare in the world. Its main manufacturer and exporter are currently New Zealand, which commercializes and advertises the product extensively. Feijoa is also grown commercially in Australia, the United States (California, Florida), Italy (Sicily), and Portugal.

Citrus market analysts have noted an increase in demand for feijoa, especially in Europe and the United States. Therefore, it would be wise for Georgian farmers to take the cultivation of this crop seriously. With the increased production of feijoa and improved fruit quality as well as the development of cooling and processing infrastructure, it is possible that feijoa will become a new and promising export product.

Feijoa is a subtropical crop and much more adapted to the climatic conditions of Georgia than citrus fruits. In Adjara, feijoa begins growing in early March, flower buds appear at the end of April, flowering begins in the first ten days of May through June. Flowering lasts 25-30 days, sometimes even up to 50 days.

The feijoa plant is characterized by relatively weak growth, begins to germinate in the 4th-5th year after planting, and enters full fruiting in the 8th-10th year. The average yield of a bush is 15-18 kg, although in some cases plants can produce up to 22-30 kg. The average yield per hectare is 15-20 tons/hectare.

For growing feijoa plantations, it is best to choose fertile, humus-rich, humus-calcareous soils, brown soils, calcareous or slightly alluvial soils of medium and light texture. Less suitable areas are eroded slopes, heavy clay and loamy soils, and less drained wetlands. Before planting, the soil is deeply cultivated 40-45 cm, then the soil is loosened and prepared for planting a seedling.

For plantations, the recommended planting schemes are 4×4 and 4×3 metres, but it can also be planted in 5×2 and 5×3 metre system. Feijoa is planted in pre-prepared pits 40-45 centimetres deep. When planting, it is best to add 12-15 kg of humus or compost. The newly planted plant is tied to a support in loose soil. In places where there is no danger of winter frosts, seedlings are planted in late autumn or in spring from March-April. For planting, it is better to use two-year seedlings with loam soil since seedlings with bare roots do not take root well.

Manure and peat compost is used on plantations during autumn tillage of 80-100 ton/hectare. Phosphate flour, ammonium nitrate, and potassium salt are used as mineral fertilizers. In an adult plantation, it is recommended to add 150-180g of nitrogen, 200-220g of phosphorus, and 100-120g of potassium per bush in terms of the active substance.

The feijoa plant takes the form of a bush. 5 to 6 of the most well-developed shoots are selected and the rest are cut off at the base. Feijoa develops relatively less frequent offshoots so it does not require a lot of pruning. New shoots as well as dried and diseased ones are usually removed in the spring.

Feijoa is relatively less susceptible to pests and diseases so it will not be difficult to grow organically. Yet, it is susceptible to mites as well as diseases with leaf rot. In this case, it is necessary to use the appropriate insecticides, acaricides, and fungicides.

The early feijoa varieties are harvested at the end of September. The fruit does not ripen at the same time, therefore several days of harvest are required. The period of massive ripening begins in the second half of October to the first half of November. After ripening, the fruits become light green, soft, and fragrant. Overripe fruits easily fall off when the branches are shaken. The fruits are picked by hand and placed neatly in baskets and buckets. Feijoa fruits have a shorter shelf life so the storage time in cool warehouses, depending on the variety does not exceed 2-4 weeks.

For reference:

Feijoa (Acca sellowiana or Feijoa sellowiana Berg) is an evergreen shrub of the myrtle family, 3-5 metres tall with an original grey stem and beautiful shiny dark green leaves. Feijoa has ovoid, green fruits weighing 30-60 grams, which are characterized by an incomparable sweet-sour taste and pineapple aroma.

Feijoa is a very healthy fruit. The use of these fruits in food has a positive effect on human health, which is largely due to the chemical composition. Its fruits are rich in pectin, sugars, various trace elements, vitamins, and most importantly, contain a particularly large amount of iodine (2.0-4.0 mg/1000 g). Marmalades, jams, compotes, lemonades, and juices are also made from feijoa. Thanks to the original tree with beautiful evergreen leaves, long flowering, are often used for decorative purposes.

Feijoa Flower

Feijoa is native to South America and can often be found in the wild in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. The plant was first described in 1819 on a scientific expedition to the province of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil led by the German naturalist Friedrich Sellow and Brazilian scientist João da Silva Feijó. It is with their surnames that the public name of this crop is connected – “Feijoa”, and the scientific name is “Sellowa”. A special role in the study and distribution of feijoa was played by the French professor Edouard André of the Versailles School of Fruits, who brought this crop to Europe from La Plata, Argentina in 1890, and the German botanist Ernst Berger, who was the first to make its botanical classification.

Сообщение Feijoa may become one of Georgia’s most lucrative export crops (video) появились сначала на EastFruit.