New Methods Extend Markets for Serbian Raspberries
Libertas Fruit Company tests storage and shipping technology
Technicians at the Libertas fruit company, with help from the USAID / Serbia Enterprise Development Project (SEDP), are testing storage and shipping methods that could open new markets for Serbian red raspberries. The near zero pre-cooling method chills the berries to just above freezing, while preventing actual formation of ice crystals. The method results in lower respiration rate, reduced moisture loss, and slower growth of organisms that can cause decay. To further reduce potential damage, the berries are packed in shallow containers that minimize surface contact and bruising.
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| SEDP Libertas pack |
According to Slobodan Zunic, Libertas' Deputy Manager of Foreign Trade, extending the shelf life of Willamette raspberries by just 72 hours could open large new markets throughout Europe.
More than 90 percent of Serbia's raspberry crops are the Willamette variety. Since fresh raspberries command five times or more the price of frozen, the potential for increased revenues to Libertas is enormous.
"This type of pre-cooling isn't new, but it's new with this variety and with our harvesting and processing methods," comments Zunic. "Everything has to be adapted to our local conditions. But the better we are at it, the fresher our product arrives to the consumer."
SEDP is providing Libertas, and other Serbian companies, with expert consultation in fresh produce handling, logistics, and marketing. The support is part of a broader strategy, developed with the Ministry of Agriculture, to transition from bulk sales to higher value fresh produce and retail products.
Libertas' fresh raspberries are now available at Metro stores and 57 Maxi Supermarkets throughout Serbia. The distinctive packaging was developed with a matching grant provided by SEDP, representing one of the first branded fresh agricultural products from Serbia. Libertas, with technical support from SEDP, is now preparing test shipments of fresh raspberries to brokers in the Netherlands.
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