Thanks to early spring, the Lagouza family farm in Odessa Region, has started harvesting early varieties of strawberries including Clare, Romina, and Quicki. With 20 years of experience, 8 professionally, Yuri Lagouza, aided by a Canadian grant, now cultivates strawberries on 1 hectare of leased land.
The distribution channels are established, with strawberries being sold in neighbouring regions.
Lagouza employs high-raised beds, for strawberry cultivation. During the harvest period, plants are treated with bio-preparations to ward off diseases. Due to temperature fluctuations, the plantation required covering with agrofibre at night and uncovering during the day.
The plants' potential allows the farmer to count on a harvest of 30 tons of strawberries per hectare.
Practising crop rotation, strawberries grow on one plot for only one year. Besides strawberries, Lagouza also cultivates onions, cabbage, and potatoes.
According to agrarians, this year's strawberry prices may remain similar to last year's, ranging from 1.5 to 2 euros per kilogram, subject to weather conditions and yield. By late April, strawberry prices in Ukraine ranged from 4 to 5 euros per kilogram, partly due to seasonal increases in supply from local greenhouses.
Source: agrotimes.ua