Serbian raspberries are expected to reach a new all-time record price this season. The purchase price of raspberries for this year's crop will is expected range from €5.1 to €6.8 per kilogram. However farmers expect much lower yields than before. “The drought has stopped the growth of young plants, so in 2022, we can expect a much lower yield. Due to that reduced quantity on the market, the price will increase drastically,” said the President of the Association of Raspberry Producers of Serbia, Dobrivoje Radovic.
Radovic added that since last year, the demand for Serbian raspberries on foreign markets has been huge since there was a lack of this produce and the offer on the European and global market was poor. The great demand for Serbian raspberries came about due to the reduced yield of the main competitors, Poland and Chile. On the territory of Serbia, 24,000 hectares of farmland has been registered as used for raspberry production, but according to Radovic, realistically, raspberries are being grown over about 14,000 hectares.
Serbia’s total raspberry yield in 2021 was 70,000 tons. “Due to the drought affecting numerous plots in Serbia, instead of 150 or 200 kg the yield averaged only 40 kg per acre. The plantations perform well only on plots equipped with irrigation systems and with anti-hail nets, which is why the outcome of the harvest last year was 70 thousand tons,” Radovic pointed out.
Source: agroberichtenbuitenland.nl
