Berry Production in SerbiaBerry Production in Serbia

M. NIKOLIĆ M. NIKOLIĆ 11, JASMINKA MILIVOJEVIĆ , JASMINKA MILIVOJEVIĆ 11 ANAND A. LEPOSAVIĆ D A. LEPOSAVIĆ 22

1 Faculty of Agriculture, Belgrade University, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia 2 Fruit Research Institute, Kralja Petra I, No 9, 32000 Čačak, Serbia

The State of Berry Production in Serbiay

Berries have special significance in SerbiaBerries have special significance in Serbiabecause they represent an important export product.Serbia is among the leading world countries accordingto raspberry and blackberry production, whereasstrawberry production is less important. Currants andbl b i h b i d d d i lblueberries have been introduced to production only

recently.

RASPBERRYRASPBERRY

Raspberry (Rubus ideaus L.) is a leading berry in Serbia, andtogether with blackberry, plum and sour cherry, is one of themost exported products. In recent years, its production hasp p y pranged between 60,000 and 70,000 t. It is estimated that thereare about 15,000 producers, and that raspberry areas occupyabout 15,500 ha.

Production is mainly realised in the hilly-mountainous regions of western and south-western Serbia.

A great fragmentation of raspberry fields (0,2 – 0,3ha) is one of the greatest obstacles to yield increase and modernization of the greatest obstacles to yield increase and modernization of the

production.

Growing technology is conventional and vertical trellis system prevails vertical trellis system prevails.

There are only a few larger complexes of raspberry orchardsin Serbia. The biggest one, “Libertas” company, has orchards onthe total area of 52 ha located in Mačva region, near Šabac. Thiscompany is also owner of two combines for mechanized harvesting.

The leading cultivar is Willamette with approximately 95% ofproduction, followed by cv Meeker (4% of production), whereas all theother cultivars participate with only 1%

Willamette Meekerother cultivars participate with only 1%.

LateLate seasonseason cultivarcultivar,, veryvery productiveproductivewithwith excellentexcellent raspberryraspberry flavourflavour..

ItIt producesproduces largelarge andand uniformuniform fruitfruitwhichwhich givesgives highhigh %% ofof rollendrollend frozenfrozenwhichwhich givesgives highhigh %% ofof rollendrollend frozenfrozenqualityquality categorycategory..

ThisThis cultivarcultivar isis alsoalso acceptableacceptable forforfreshfresh marketmarket!!

Tulameen Glen Ample

Mid season cultivarMid season cultivars with s with high yieldshigh yields of large berries of large berries Excellent fruit flavour and quality Excellent fruit flavour and quality G d f it t ti f i kiG d f it t ti f i kiGood fruit presentation for easy pickingGood fruit presentation for easy picking

ThTheessee cultivarcultivarss are particularly suitableare particularly suitable for fresh marketfor fresh market!!

Primocane fruiting raspberry cultivarsare being slowly introduced into production on the total area of 20 ha are being slowly introduced into production on the total area of 20 ha.

Trellis is not required !Trellis is not required !

These cultivars offer an additional method of production whichpreduces labour costs, canes are simply mowed down early each springand the crop is borne on the primocanes in the late summer and fall.

New orchards of primocane fruiting raspberry cultivarsraspberry cultivars

Cv Heritage

Cv PolkaCv Polka

Polka Heritage

• Polka ripens much earlier than Heritage;

• Large, oval-conical, medium •The primocane crop ripens relatively late;• High yielding cultivar;Large, oval conical, medium

to dark red berries with high firmness

• Excellent sweet flavour

• High yielding cultivar;• Fruit is medium-sized and has good colour and flavour, firmness, and good freezing quality.

Autumn Bliss Polana

The main advantages of these cultivars are: • Early ripening time (10-14 days before Heritage)

Hi h i ld • High yields •• Both cultivars produce attractive and hBoth cultivars produce attractive and high quality igh quality berries suitable for berries suitable for

fresh consumption and processing fresh consumption and processing

The main raspberry production is processed, i.e. frozen, andexported within two quality categories: rollend and gries.After the end of the picking season the raspberries areAfter the end of the picking season the raspberries areclassified into the mentioned categories.

PolanaPolana

F ti f f bFractions of frozen raspberry:Rollend 45%; Gries 46%; Bruh 5% and

Block 4%.

The export of fresh raspberries from Serbia isnegligible Bad organization of harvesting and lack ofnegligible. Bad organization of harvesting and lack ofproducers’ and exporters’ interests in this business arethe main reasons for this state.

The closeness of market and attractive price, new cultivars suitablefor fresh consumption, possibility of out of season raspberry

d ti j hi h ld t ib t t thproduction are major reasons which could contribute to theorientation of our raspberry production and placement toward thatgoal.

Blackberryy

Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.) is the second most importantBlackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.) is the second most importantberry in Serbia. Its production in 2005 reached 25,500 t on the totalarea of 5,500 ha, and later, it increased to 30,000 t in 2007, when itreached a rather high price. Therefore, our country became thesecond largest blackberry producer in the world, following the USA.Due to a large amount of unsold blackberry in 2007, only about 10,000t was produced and sold in 2008.

The main production areas are in Central Serbia, Mačva, Morava

Ri b i d P i River basin and Pocerina.

ThornfreeČačanska bestrna Black Saten

The predominant cultivar is Čačanska bestrna (50% of The predominant cultivar is Čačanska bestrna (50% of total production), followed by Thornfree and Black saten .

There are only a few new thornless cultivars which are being introduced into production, such as:

Triple crown

Early trials indicate h l that Triple crown

may ripen earlier than Chester and is similar to Chester

Chester thornless Jumbo

similar to Chester in winter hardiness!

StrawberryyStrawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) occupies the third positionStrawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) occupies the third position

according to the importance and the extent of production. Itsproduction achieved 30,000t in 2007, but now we can notice adecreasing trend of strawberry production.

Despite suitable ecological conditions for strawberry growing, totalproduction area is only 3,000 ha. It is mainly grown in Belgraderegion, southern Serbia, Morava River basin, Mačva etc.region, southern Serbia, Morava River basin, Mačva etc.

Senga Sengana Favette

Old cultivars, Favette and Senga Sengana, are predominant in the production because they are adaptable to the growing systems without plastic mulches and irrigation.

Favette

Senga Sengana

Newly established modern strawberry orchards

Marmolada Onebor Madeleine Civmad

In recent years, newly introduced cultivars (Madeleine, Marmolada, l El lb El ) h h ll l Clery, Elsanta, Alba, Queen Elisa) have shown excellent results.

Elsanta Queen elisa

Generally this cultivar is In our ecological conditions it

expressed yield variations (0,5 –1 kg per plant) as result of the

Generally, this cultivar is superior to other cultivars

regarding early ripening time, high productivity and fruit g p p )

influence of climate and applied growing technology.

g p yfirmness, excellent quality and

pleasant flavour.

Clery Alba

They have become very popular cultivars of high commercial value

based on their earliness and excellent fruit quality.

Large amount of strawberriesis realised as a fresh producton domestic market, but thereis also export of frozen

d tproducts.

BlueberryBlueberry

( b ) h b l lHighbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) has been slowlyexpanding throughout Serbia, especially in the area of western Serbia.

Total production areas presently range from 60 to 70 haTotal production areas presently range from 60 to 70 ha.Highbush blueberry cultivars are mostly grown (Bluecrop,Berkeley, Ozark blue, Duke, Reka etc.).

Arilje

Berkeley Bluecrop

Ozarkblue

Mid season highbush blueberrycultivars with high yields (end ofJ ne beginning of J l )June - beginning of July).

Berries are medium to large, lightblue with great flavour.

Duke Those are of special interest because of interest because of large and attractive

berries as well as early i i

Reka

ripening.

Reka

Bred in New Zealand .It is one of the most adaptable cultivars we have adaptable cultivars we have seen.Fruit has better flavour than Duke and excellent freezing qualityquality.

Currants

Currants (Ribes nigrum; Ribes rubrum) are randomly grown in Serbia on totalCurrants (Ribes nigrum; Ribes rubrum) are randomly grown in Serbia on totalproduction area of approximately 50 ha with negligible yields. There are also olderorchards in western Serbia, mostly including red currants, so total productionranges from 100 to 150 t.ranges from 100 to 150 t.

Ben Sarek Ben Lomond Titania

Presently, there is an expansion of black currant cultivars and these cultivars are mostly grown in

l bli h d h dnewly established orchards.

Rondom Junifer

Rovada

Among the red currant cultivars these presented above have the dominant share.have the dominant share.

They are mostly suitable for fresh consumption!

Blanka Zitavia

White currant cultivars (Primus, Blanka, Zitavia) are present in smaller extent within production.

CONCLUSIONS

R b ill i l di b i S bi ith - Raspberry will remain a leading berry in Serbia, with intention to increase export of fresh raspberries and to

t d h sti s s extend harvesting season;

- Blackberry production should be maintained at the same level with the introduction of new cultivars;

- The level of strawberry production should be enhancedThe level of strawberry production should be enhancedwith intensification of growing systems;

Cu nt nd blu b p ducti n sh uld b xp nd d- Currant and blueberry production should be expanded.

- Challenges and plans -

Besides all mentioned, what will be of special interest to us in the future are the following subjects:f f g j

• To intoduce new berries: chockeberry and cranberry (lingonberry)cranberry (lingonberry)

• To implement GLOBAL GAP standard for quality assuranceq y

• To apply mechanized harvesting• To build smaller processing facilities • Permanent training of producers• More aggressive marketing with goal to

enhance berries consumptionenhance berries consumption.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION