BERRY PLANTATIONS CAPITALIZE ON FRUITS GROWING POPULARITY

FRESH, HANDPICKED BERRIES CREATE JOBS, EXPORTS, PROFITS

JUNIK, KosovoFor a handful of commercial farmers, the blueberry is the new fruit in town. Thanks to USAID, Kosovo now boasts its first 10 hectares (25 acres) of cultivated blueberry plantations. Farmers planted the blueberry bushes, imported from the United States, in 2012 and 2013. The first commercial harvest is slated for 2014, once the transplanted Duke, Bluecrop, Elliot and other highbush blueberries establish their root systems in low-pH soil fed with drip irrigation. The mixed cultivars ripen sequentially, which should allow for a seven- to eight-week harvest. The demand is therepeople know their value, says farmer Florim Shala, who planted 3 hectares of blueberry bushes on his land outside this village in western Kosovo. Whatever we will be able to grow, we should sell without problem. Blueberries bushes can produce for 60 years, providing a sustainable and profitable livelihood for growers of the highly nutritious and popular fruit. Worldwide demand continues to outstrip supply, even as cultivation expands beyond North America. Its a tremendous opportunity for Kosovo. Its a high-value crop, produced using minimal area and is labor-intensive. That makes it perfect: Kosovo needs high-value products, has many smallholdings and lots of unemployment, says Rick Dale, a contract consultant for USAIDs New Opportunities for Agriculture project. While Kosovo has a long tradition of growing other soft fruits, including raspberries, for processing, USAID has worked to encourage its transition into producing handpicked fruit for higher-value fresh sales. For example, fresh, handpicked strawberries, another soft fruit actively promoted by USAID, sell locally for up to 10 times the price of berries picked for processing, typically freezing or juicing. Kosovos climate and proximity to lucrative export markets in the European Union leave it well positioned to develop a fresh blueberry industry that can support USAIDs goals of promoting growth, creating jobs and generating exports. Since fragile blueberries must be handpicked for fresh sale, Kosovos low labor costs provide it a competitive edge. So Photo: Andrew Bridges does its geography: blueberries ripen in Kosovo two to three Rick Dale, a Bayfield, Wis., blueberry farmer weeks before they do in Poland, the major European berry and contract consultant for USAIDs New producer.
Opportunities for Agriculture project, demonstrates the use of a Mankar sprayer for To support the knowledge base among blueberry growers, controlling weeds

Photo: Andrew Bridges Workers clear weeds on a blueberry plantation outside Junik, Kosovo, established with USAIDs assistance, in this April 30, 2013, photograph. The plantation should produce its first commercial crop in 2014.

Photo: Andrew Bridges Rreze Jakupi, an intern with USAIDs New Opportunities for Agriculture project, demonstrates use of a tensiometer in monitoring soil moisture levels during a field school for commercial blueberry growers.

USAID has run a number of field schools focused on the crops exacting pest control, pruning, nutrition, irrigation, postharvest handling and other requirements. They will all be embraced, says nursery owner Xhavit Mulaj, who has begun propagating a small number of blueberry bushes for sale to growers across Kosovo.

Photo: Andrew Bridges USAID organized a field school for commercial blueberry growers on April 30, 2013, drawing more than 30 farmers, as well as other agriculture experts from government and academia. USAID helped establish Kosovos first 10 hectares of commercial blueberry plantations.