Celebrating the Raspberry Harvest

Thursday, September 7, 2017
Ambassador Delawie talking to the raspberry farmers
USEP

Raspberry production in Kosovo is booming, and the introduction of new varieties from USAID’s agriculture programs has significantly extended the growing season.  New methods of growing, handling, packaging, and marketing have also increased crop yields, quality, market-reach, and price.  On August 14th, Ambassador Delawie and his team were on hand at a Ferizaj raspberry orchard to celebrate this year’s successful raspberry crop, to meet with local farmers, and to join in the harvest.  The orchard belonged to Trimor Hyseni, a 27-year-old university graduate in economics and agricultural entrepreneur who began cultivating raspberries on his own just last year.  Trimor exemplifies the opportunities for Kosovars in the agriculture sector – this year he plans to harvest 35 tons of raspberries with the 22 seasonal workers that he employs during harvest season.    

An estimated 1500 farmers are growing raspberries in Kosovo, with a total of roughly 1000 hectares currently under cultivation.  By 2020, USAID’s Agricultural for Growth and Rural Opportunity (AGRO) program, together with its strategic partners, will assist the raspberry sector in evolving into a sustainable fresh-market industry, supporting 3,000 hectares of production, and possibly becoming a superior supplier of fresh and processed raspberries to domestic, regional, and EU markets.