According to experts from the Federation of Agricultural Producers of Moldova (FARM), many farmers of the country will, to a greater or lesser extent, face a “crisis of growth in production costs in 2022 – a significant increase in the cost of fertilizers, pesticides, energy resources, parts for machinery and equipment, as well as an increase in seasonal labor costs”. Obviously, forced savings on some factors of production are unlikely to result into success on the intensive plantations of many fruits in the short term. However, this process may have the least negative impact in plum orchards. Moreover, if accompanied by transition to organic production, plum growers could even benefit from reduced investments in fertilizers and crop protection products.

Read also: TOP-10 events of the produce business in Moldova in 2021

According to expert estimates, the total area of ​​plum orchards in Moldova was 21.9 thousand hectares in 2021. Only a small share, less than 10% of these plantations, can be classified as semi-intensive and intensive (in the latter case – not less than 1.25 thousand trees per hectare). At the same time, not all them are equipped with drip irrigation systems, and only a few are equipped with anti-hail protection systems or anti-rain film. Last year, the quality of Moldovan plums suffered primarily from the slow accumulation of sugar and cracking due to excess moisture. Heavy precipitation complicated and reduced the efficiency of disinfections.

It is obvious that the volume and quality of the plum harvest will remain strongly dependent on natural factors in 2022. But, given the sharp rise in the cost of resources, some growers will consider it an acceptable solution to reduce the cost of fertilizers, pesticides and even irrigation in plum orchards. In this context, some agricultural producers also consider this year “convenient for joining the transition to organic farming, subsidized by the state and donor projects.”

Representatives of certification companies note that the transition to organic production in fruit growing takes at least two to three seasons. Consequently, farmers should first assess the possibility of abandoning agricultural chemicals throughout this period, as well as invest heavily in organic fertilizers and plant protection products.

Сообщение The transition to organic production is the best solution for Moldovan plum growers – opinion появились сначала на EastFruit.

Few farmers produce saffron in Georgia. However, many may be interested in it in the future as climate change is affecting major production regions of the world such as Kashmir in India, and the Georgian climate is suitable for growing it. The first Georgian growers serve as an example for others, as many have never heard of saffron production before, given that saffron is not traditional for Georgia.

EastFruit contacted an organic saffron grower from Georgia, Rusudan Kharabadze, to learn more about her experience.

Why did you decide to produce organic saffron and when did you start?

– I had this idea while working in the Balkans as a representative of one of the international organizations. The organization has supported saffron production in the conflict zone to help local residents plant the disputed land. They researched agricultural production and decided to produce saffron as the market was overflowing with traditional crops. I decided to grow saffron in Georgia with the same goal – to produce an unconventional product.

In 2018, I bought organic saffron bulbs (Crocus sativus) from the Netherlands and started saffron production in Sagarejo, Kakheti region. I decided to start organic from the very beginning because there is a lot of conventional saffron on the market, but organic is highly valued and demanded.

The initial investment was around 15 000 EUR, of which more than 7 000 EUR was spent on 50,000 bulbs. This was enough to plant 1 600 square meters of land. I would have planted more in case of financial support from a government program or agricultural lending, but my business idea did not receive support. Saffron is a new product for Georgia, so the people with whom I spoke did not understand what kind of business it was. I only managed to get a standard consumer loan from the bank.

– Why Kakheti and Sagarejo? What is the preferred climate for saffron production?

– Before making a decision, I visited several more regions. Saffron is best planted in eastern Georgia, in regions with a relatively dry climate. It would be more difficult to produce it in regions with high humidity such as Samegrelo or Adjara in western Georgia.

– What are the main aspects of growing organic saffron?

– Soil quality is critical to saffron production. It should be well drained to avoid fungal infections. Also, when we talk about organic production, weed and pest control is challenging. I use organic pest control, but weeds have to be removed by hand. The production of organic saffron, like any other organic product, is labor intensive as all operations in the field are done manually, including harvesting.

In other respects, this culture is quite resistant to extreme temperatures, withstanding up to -25 degrees Celsius. But saffron doesn’t like changeable weather. I can say this from my own experience. In 2020, the weather changed unexpectedly at the end of October, which resulted in the cessation of flowering and a decrease in the harvest this season.

-What is the production dynamics over the years?

– In the first year, I harvested only 0.25 kg of dried saffron from ​​1600 square meters. The yield increased to 1.2 kg the next year, but it dropped to 0.9 kg in 2020 due to weather conditions. Harvesting has been completed for the current season, but the drying process has not finished yet. Our saffron is dried without a dryer, at room temperature without sunlight, but a dryer will be necessary over time.

– What are the specifics of harvesting saffron?

– The harvesting period of saffron is from mid-October to mid-November, and harvesting is done manually. On average, we need three weeks to complete harvest. This process takes weeks because flowers bloom gradually. We trained the workers to pick flowers correctly. The main thing is to avoid contact with the soil, as flowers are not washed after harvest. Minimum sanitary rules are followed when removing the stigma.

– What is the price of organic saffron on the market and where do you sell it?

– I sold only small batches of the total harvest in the local market. Since dried saffron can be stored for 5-6 years without losing quality, I am in no rush to sell. I am waiting for the organic certificate, which will be ready in December.

The price is 50 GEL in the local market, while conventional Iranian saffron costs 35 GEL ($11) per gram. In European markets, the approximate price for organic saffron will be up to 15,000 EUR ($16,927) per kg. I plan to sell the crop next year, mainly in Israel and European countries like France or the Netherlands – the Netherlands produces the bulbs, but not the saffron itself. I have already contacted an Israeli pharmaceutical company that is interested in purchasing organic saffron from Georgia. Most likely, I will continue to supply the pharmaceutical market in the future.

– Are professional knowledge or advice from agronomists needed to grow saffron?

– While working in the Balkans, I was trained by a Spanish specialist and acquired all the necessary knowledge. I only need professional help when choosing organic fertilizers or pest control products. Anyone with no previous experience or knowledge of saffron production will need to learn the specifics of production before planting.

– What are your plans for the future, do you plan to increase production?

– At the end of spring 2022, I plan to dig up and divide the bulbs in order to transplant them into new soil. The new area will be 1 hectare instead of 1600 square meters, as saffron bulbs are propagating in the soil. They should be split and replanted every four years. I hope that the harvest in 2022 will at least double. The harvest will increase every year. From the 2022 season, production will be profitable.

Сообщение There is a lot of saffron on the global market, but organic saffron is the most valued and demanded – Georgian grower появились сначала на EastFruit.

In 2019, the Moldovan cooperative CI Nucces (Cupercheni village, Orhei district) established an organic Chandler walnut orchard on about 100 hectares and It will give its first harvest this year.

The project is noteworthy from many points of view. First, it is being implemented by a classic cooperative created by six co-founders who entered agribusiness with approximately equal land shares. Within the framework of the cooperative, the same agricultural technologies are used at all agricultural plots – for growing products of the same variety and uniform quality, a common investment is made in the development of production infrastructure. In the future, marketing will be common, as well. Earlier in the nut industry of Moldova, production and marketing cooperation was used in almond and hazelnut growing. In the walnut sector, individualism prevailed: there were either large enterprises of a closed production and commercial cycle, or small farms largely dependent on processors and traders.

Read also: The forecast of the walnut harvest in Moldova has been increased, but it will still be relatively low

Secondly, from the very beginning of its work, the cooperative CI Nucces used the consulting support of a professional organization – the Federation of Agricultural Producers of Moldova FARM. Its experts assisted the co-founders of the cooperative in finding land plots suitable for organic agricultural production, choosing agricultural technologies, drafting business plans and searching for preferential financing.

Thirdly, the choice of walnut variety plays a special role in the concept of the project. On the one hand, “Chandler” is the standard of quality and the most preferred variety in the global walnut market. On the other hand, it is demanding in terms of agricultural technologies. In particular, its productivity depends on fertilization and irrigation regime. With the assistance of FARM, the CI Nucces cooperative received grant support from the IFAD program for the construction of a main pipeline (from the Dniester River) and a storage reservoir. In the near future, the cooperative will receive financing through the “Livada Moldovei” project in order to equip the orchard with a drip irrigation system.

Сообщение A Moldovan cooperative has created one of the largest organic walnut orchards in Europe появились сначала на EastFruit.

Russian growers from the southern regions started harvesting early blueberry varieties at the end of last week, analysts of the EastFruit project report. As of today, the first batches of blueberries have already become available on the market. This crop is relatively new for Russian producers; growers have begun to actively plant it in the last few years.

Prices for early blueberries from local farms today fluctuate in a fairly wide range – from 700 to 1000 RUB/kg ($ 9.54-13.63/kg), depending on the caliber and quality of the offered berries. The supply of blueberries on the market at the moment is rather limited: so far only a few producers from the southern regions of Russia offer them.

Producers say the main problem in this segment is distribution channels. Since today the volumes of blueberries from local farms are rather small, retail chains prefer to work with imported berries, which are often offered in bulk much cheaper than local berries. Serbia and Belarus are the main suppliers of imported blueberries to the Russian market.

Russian blueberry producers are planning to enter the market more actively around 20th of July, then prices in this segment will start to decline so that local berries can compete with imported ones.

The producers of organic blueberries are likely to benefit, as they currently offer their products at the very top end of the price range. The supply of organic berries on the market is small even at the peak of the season, since production is quite costly, and only a few growersproduce organic blueberries. According to them, the demand for organic blueberries is quite high today and almost the entire harvest has already been negotiated.

Сообщение Russian growers have delivered the first batches of blueberries появились сначала на EastFruit.

The demand for table grapes is growing year by year globally. However, demand is growing only for high-quality table grapes, for which consumers are willing to pay more. This idea was expressed by the economist of the Investment Centre of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Andriy Yarmak during a virtual training on the effective organization of promotion and packaging of fruit and vegetable products for exports. The event was organized by the USAID Competitiveness, Trade and Jobs Activity (CTJ) Project. Information and expert support was provided by the East-Fruit.com.

As Andriy Yarmak noted, there is currently no demand for non-premium fruit in the EU countries. This is especially true for countries from the so-called EU-15 bloc.

“It is also important to know that consumers appreciate ​​the convenience of consumption. With regard to grapes, this means seedless varieties with large grapes,” the expert emphasized.

In addition, consumers are increasingly paying attention to the environmental friendliness of the product and its packaging, as well as to the sustainability of the production and sales system.

It is also important that today’s consumers of the so-called generations Y and Z have completely different values ​​in consumption – it will be extremely difficult to sell non-organic products in non-ecological packaging to them. They will make mainly online-purchases, and not with the keyboard or application, but through a voice assistant, such as Amazon Alexa,” Andriy Yarmak explained.

At the same time, expert highlighted that organic is the fastest growing segment of table grapes. However, producing them is more difficult, as it requires high-tech production. In addition, preservation of such table grapes is also much more difficult comparted to a product cultivated in a conventional way. Moreover, growing organic grapes in Central Asia for fresh export to other regions may not be the best option, as in this case, grapes must be transported for thousands of kilometers, which results in environmental pollution. This contradicts with the philosophy of organic business. However, the cultivation of organic grapes for the production of organic raisins (dried grapes) in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and other countries of the region, can be a great idea.

In general, seedless varieties are in the greatest demand on the global market for fresh table grapes. For instance, Scarlet Royal is the leader in terms of production volume in the US market, with annual sales growth of 80%. The second and third most popular varieties are Autumn King and Flame Seedless, respectively.

“These three varieties account for 60% of the total production in the United States. Varieties change quickly – a vineyard in the United States is not used long due to changes in demand and consumer preferences, although it could be exploited for many more years. However, producers prefer to remove  a productive variety if they notice that the demand for it is starting to decline and replace it with the one that is in trend and preferred by consumers,” Andriy Yarmak explained.

Сообщение Generations Y and Z will prefer organic table grapes in eco-friendly packaging ordered through virtual assistant – Andriy Yarmak появились сначала на EastFruit.

Georgia`s Natural, a major Georgian producer of organic fruit , vegetable juices and canned food, plans to launch a new line by the end of spring – organic kombucha made from berries and root vegetables.

Georgia`s Natural is a subsidiary of the diversified Aromaproduct LLC, focused on the production of premium quality organic fruit and vegetable products. Products of the Georgia`s Natural brand are mainly exported and presented in the markets of 40 countries around the world. At the GulFood 2021 exhibition held in February in the UAE, the company became a finalist of the Gulfood Innovation Awards 2021 in the category “Most Innovative Drink”. EastFruit spoke with Georgia`s Natural representative Yana Polevanskaya about the company’s activities, trends and demand for organic products.

– Tell us about Georgia`s Natural kombucha – how will it be manufactured and for which markets will it be oriented ?

– Our organic kombucha will include three types of drink at this stage – produced from rose hips, from a mix of rose hips and several types of berries, as well as turmeric and ginger. It will be healthy, full of vitamins and made in compliance with all organic production standards. Kombucha will be brewed with rosehip infusion, which is undergoing a fermentation stage. We plan to introduce it to all the markets where our products are already present.

– Name at least a few countries where the company’s products are exported to …

– I can list them all. These are Japan, China, South Korea, Mongolia, USA, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, France, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Spain, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Ukraine, Russia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia, Fiji Islands, countries of South Africa and South America.

– What is Georgia’s Natural range of products today?

– All Georgia`s Natural products are organic and certified according to international standards. These are, in particular, organic cold-pressed juices from vegetables, fruit, berries, purees and sauces from fruits, berries and vegetables, drinks such as “Sider” – made from the juice of apples or pears or several types of greens, with the addition of apple cider vinegar. A few months ago, berries and vegetables frozen with the IQF (Individual Quick Freezing) technology were added. We use wild strawberries, blueberries, currants, raspberries, plums, blackberries, mulberries, grapes, apples, pears, apricots, pomegranates, melons, watermelons, pumpkins, beets, carrots, red cabbage, etc. as raw products. In addition, we sell fresh organic fruit and vegetables – seasonally, in retail packages.

– Please tell us more about Georgia`s Natural – the history of its creation and current production …

– The history of the company began with Aromaproduct LLC, a diversified company that has been working since 1996. At the end of the 90s, the founders of Aromaproduct, based on the results of market research, concluded that the international market gives special preference to natural and organic products, and then the company began developing in this direction. In 2006 it founded Georgia`s Natural LLC, which produces exclusively organic products.

Today Georgia`s Natural is an export-oriented group that includes: operating organic farms, harvesting wild crops, controlling the quality of organic raw materials, processing them and creating premium quality products. Currently, Georgia`s Natural owns organic farms with a total area of ​​300 hectares in the Kvareli region (Kakheti region, Eastern Georgia). There is a high-tech enterprise for the processing of fruit and vegetable raw materials in the same region. The juice bottling and canning process is carried out at our second facility located in Tbilisi.

All stages of production, including growing and harvesting of wild crops, raw products processing, storing and releasing final products, comply with organic production standards: EU/NON-EU (organic standard for the European market), NOP/USDA (organic standard for the US market), JAS (organic standard for the Japanese market), KOC (organic standard for the South Korean market). Compliance with the standards is monitored by the international certification body Kiwa BCS Öko-Garantie GmbH (Germany). The company also holds FSSC 22000, Kosher/OU, Halal/IFRC ASIA certificates.

The company initially set a goal to ensure that the Georgia`s Natural becomes an internationally known brand of premium quality organic products, and Georgia is perceived as a country with good potential for organic farming, harvesting of wild crops and organic production.

– What products of the company are in the greatest demand on the international market?

– Today the greatest demand is for organic pomegranate, cherry and dogwood juices. Fruit and vegetable cocktails produced following the company’s signature recipes are also popular.

– Which drink was awarded at the Gulfood Innovation Awards 2021?

– These are our signature cocktails. Fruit and vegetables contained are selected according to ì flavor combinations and color. We have cocktails in yellow (pumpkin, mango, banana), pink, green, etc.

– Where can Georgia`s Natural products be bought in Georgia?

– They are presented in our brand stores in Tbilisi and Batumi. In addition, last year we have started developing the concept of “organic bar”. These are special stands on the territory of hypermarkets and other large objects, where about 80 types of our organic juices can be tasted, both in bottles and glasses (there are conical flasks for bottling juices at the bar), optionally with ice. Other products of the company can be bought in such bars. There are seven of our “organic bars” in operation now.

– Have there been any problems in the company’s work last year against the backdrop of the Covid -19 pandemic, and what are your plans for this year?

– 2020 was a rather difficult year for Georgia`s Natural, as well as for other companies. Logistics issues were especially problematic, but our company worked in an emergency mode and practically managed to timely fulfill orders to foreign partners. Over the past period of the pandemic, the demand for organic products in the world has increased, I think, because the population has begun to actively follow a healthy lifestyle, preferring heathier products. In our opinion, this trend will continue in 2021. Accordingly, we plan to continue developing our organic farming, expanding the range of products and sales area. In particular, this year we want to start introducing the concept of an “organic bar” in various countries where we are widely represented. In addition to drinks in standard containers (glass bottles of 200, 300, 750 and 1000 ml), we also plan to launch the production of fruit and vegetable shots – juices in small bottles “for one sip”. Our plans for the near future also include a start of the production of organic dried fruits and organic dried fruits frozen with the IQF technology.

Сообщение Georgia`s Natural will introduce organic rosehip and ginger kombucha появились сначала на EastFruit.

Chile’s blueberry export season is almost over. At the end of the 11th week of 2021, the exports of Chilean blueberries since the beginning of the season amounted to 118,225 tons, which is 8.2% more than in the same period in 2020, and 6% higher than the preliminary export forecast published at the beginning of the export season. – 111,500 tons.

Experts consider that the reason for the growth in blueberry exports from Chile was an increase in berry cultivated area and the replacement of outdated varieties with more productive ones, FruitNews informs, based on materials from blueberriesconsulting.com.

Exports of organic blueberries from the Coquimbo and Valparaiso regions also increased at the start of the exporting season.

Read also: Investment in blueberries. What? Whi?

Chile’s organic blueberry exports are up 35% in the 2020/21 season. compared with the previous season and amounted to 20,871 tons. The share of organic blueberries in the total export is 18%

The main markets for Chilean blueberries in the 2020/21 season have been:  USA with share around 55% and a 14% increase compared to the previous season. Europe with a share of 34% and an increase of 11% compared to the last season and the Far East -with a share of 10% and a decrease around 27% compared to the last season.

Сообщение Chilean blueberry exports are up 8.2% this season 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.

Due to its favorable geographic location, as well as favorable conditions for farming, over the past few years, Ukraine has become one of the leading suppliers of organic fruits and vegetables to the markets of Western Europe, occupying, as of the beginning of last year, the 4th place among the supplying countries in EU.

This is stated in the “Research of the Ukrainian Market for Organic Fruit and Vegetable Products-2019“, which was carried out at the initiative of the Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Business Development Project (UHBDP) with the participation of specialists from the certification body “Organic Standard,” as well as the educational and consulting project Organic Business School.

As the authors of the study note, currently, Ukrainian exporters of organic fruits and vegetables are actively using the advantages of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, which is part of the Agreement.

The research emphasizes that additional control measures over Ukrainian products introduced in the EU in January 2016 do not apply to fruit and berry and vegetable crops, simplifying the EU’s export of fruit and vegetable products. At the same time, the study notes that competition, especially in the developed EU market, is relatively high. “Therefore, Ukrainian exporters need to prepare very carefully for the supply and promotion of their products to this market,” researchers report.

The largest organic markets in the world are concentrated in the USA, Germany, and France. Thus, in percentage terms, the US organic market has a 47% share of the world market, and the EU organic market – 37%.

“These are the areas of export of organic products from Ukraine that can be a priority. Although Ukrainian exporters should also pay attention to countries such as Switzerland, Canada, and Asian countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates, Japan, and China,” authors of the study noted.

The UHBDP also notes that organic vegetables have the largest market share among all categories of organic produce.

In countries such as Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, and Sweden, organic vegetables account for 10% or more total vegetable assortment sales. In comparison, organic fresh carrots and pumpkins account for almost 30% of Germany’s corresponding product segment.

Analyzing the Ukrainian organic fruit and vegetable market, the authors of the study draw attention to the fact that some product categories have an advantage in terms of sales on the external market, and some on the domestic market.

“In particular, Ukrainian producers of organic vegetables sell their products mainly on the domestic market through supermarket chains (Silpo, Auchan, Good Wine, WineTime), small specialized stores (Natur Boutique, Eco Lavka), Internet, direct delivery to end consumers through the organic basket concept, or through a store near the farm. The products are sold fresh. The assortment of fresh organic vegetables on the Ukrainian market includes potatoes, beets, carrots, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, garlic, radishes, beans, lettuce, arugula, spinach, Swiss chard, cilantro, dill, basil, eggplant, zucchini, sweet corn, white cabbage, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, Peking cabbage, and Kale cabbage.

Organic fruits, including berries, are sold mainly for export to the EU and Switzerland. Partially, these products can also be found in the domestic market. For example, such products are watermelon, melon, pumpkin, grapes, blueberries, lingonberries, blackberries, raspberries, garden strawberries. These products are sold mainly fresh, although the berries are also sold frozen,” researchers reported.

It is noted that fresh organic apples supplied from Ukraine to foreign markets are intended only for further processing in the country of export. “The decision on whether to export fresh apple or apple concentrate from Ukraine is made depending on the market situation and the cost of logistics,” the authors of the study explained.

It should be noted that, in addition to cultivated organic fruit and berry products (raspberries, garden strawberries, chokeberries, apples), Ukrainian operators also sell wild plants: blueberries, blackberries, lingonberries, cranberries, elderberries, chokeberries, blackthorns, rose hips, sea buckthorn, mountain ash, wild strawberry, apple, and nuts.

“In total, about 20 Ukrainian operators export only wild berries. At the same time, 3 Ukrainian operators export walnut kernels, but only obtained as products of wild plants. The export of nuts grown in the fields of farms is not yet conducted. The main reason for the absence of such shipments is the young age of the walnut plantations and insufficient volumes for export,” the study explains.

The study also states that in 2018, 8 exporters supplied organic raspberries to EU markets, grown by 28 Ukrainian producers.

“An analysis of the importing countries of this berry shows that Ukrainian producers export their products to countries such as Poland, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Serbia, and the United Kingdom. What is more, every year, the geography of Ukrainian organic exports raspberry increases,” authors of the research noted.

Сообщение Research: Ukraine becomes one of the leading exporters of organic fruits and vegetables to EU markets появились сначала на EastFruit.

In organic production, field crops are easier to grow, and also to store and transport. Therefore, 95% of organic farmers grow grain and industrial crops. As for greenhouse vegetable growing in the organic production segment, there are only 7 farms in Ukraine that decided to make a business on it. This was reported by the Internet portal SEEDS.org.ua according to Infoindustria.

Such data was reported by Larisa Shedey, a senior researcher at the Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry named after A.N. Sokolovsky, during the conference “Agroecology 2018” organized by the UHBDP project.

“All organic greenhouse farmers are faced with a lack of good vegetables for their children. The demand for organic vegetables is very high, but few are produced. Only 7 farms decided to grow organic vegetables in greenhouses,” said Larisa Shedey.

Larisa Shedey collaborates with the Organic Family Farm of Andrey Marchenko, who has been working in the Sumy region for about 16 years. According to her, Organic Family Farm produces cucumber and tomato of very high taste qualities. It enables a company to sell vegetables on the local market in a provincial town with a margin of 50-100% of the market price, and buyers pay more expensive not for an organic certificate, but for taste.

Another producer named FOP Burnaeva L.L. sells organic tomato at a price of 60 UAH / kg in Kharkiv, while in Kyiv a farmer sells tomato at a higher price – 120 UAH / kg.

According to the expert, entering the organic vegetable growing segment is cheaper for indoor use: “Organic certification is worth 20-30 thousand UAH per year, plus 10 thousand UAH is spent on product analysis. Thus, spendings in about 50 thousand UAH per year for a farm are not significant. Investments in the open ground may amount to 500 thousand UAH.”

The availability of roads is a very important factor for organic vegetable producers. “There are regional processing centers for pumpkins and apples, but not for vegetables. The proximity to such centers is a very important aspect for farmers, ” notes Larisa Shedey.

The human factor is also important. “Older agronomists often just don’t believe in organic farming. It is impossible to convince them, they subconsciously can sabotage the work process and provoke problems. Often owners recruit vegetarians, people who are fond of yoga, and lead a healthy lifestyle, and then the team works more successfully. Of course, a decent payment is needed. There is practice on the farms when the salaries of employees are at the level of 1 thousand Euros, only then people don’t go abroad,” said Larisa Shedey.

Сообщение Despite high demand, Ukrainian organic vegetables are grown only in 7 greenhouses появились сначала на EastFruit.