ABB Growers Serbia has entered into a cooperation with about 150 local growers to grow high-quality blueberries for the European market. Unique to this cooperation is that the inspection takes place in Serbia. This week, harvesting will start, but the first samples were delivered in the Netherlands last weekend. “We’ll bring these samples to the attention of various major retailers. Expectations are high,” says Fred Douven.
Early next week, larger volumes will be expected. ABB Growers Serbia works closely with the local Ministry of Agriculture and the Dutch embassy in the country. “This cooperation is very unique for Serbian concepts,” Fred says. “By doing the inspection in the production country, we can give advice to the growers on the spot as soon as the berries are of poorer quality.”
Weather circumstances have been good for the Serbian blueberry production. “Flowering and setting were fine, and sizing is also looking well. This will result in good volumes,” Fred expects. “The berries come from young plantations, the majority is two years old, so the plantations aren’t in full production yet. However, the quality coming from the young plants is often very good, as is the case in any country.”
One of the reasons ABB Growers has gone into Serbian production on a large scale, is the production window. “That timing is excellent this year as well. As of next week, volumes in Spain will start decreasing, and we’ll have plenty of supply in the difficult month of June, while the Dutch season perfectly connects to the Serbian one,” Fred says. “Besides, harvesting costs in Serbia are slightly lower, although it’s more difficult, transport-wise, from a non-EU country than, for example, Romania.”
For more information:
Fred Douven
abbGrowers
Industriestraat 11
5961 PG Horst, the Netherlands
sales@abbgrowers.com
www.abbgrowers.com