Harvesting is currently underway on blueberry plantations in Una-Sana Canton, and producers point out that they are satisfied with the harvest, despite the unfavorable weather conditions, as well as the demand on the market.
In the last few years, an increasing number of farmers have decided to plant and grow this berry, and it is assumed that this crop has been planted on more than seven hectares of land.
The largest blueberry producer in this canton, Nusret Sušić, says that this year he expects a yield of about 15 tons from his plot, on which he planted about 6,000 seedlings of this culture.
Sušić family says that, thanks to the help of the USAID, they built an anti-hail network and a production line for the production of juices, jams and other products, and the city authorities helped them procure a refrigerator.
Due to the volume of work, they hired additional workers during the harvest, and they point out that these days they work from morning to night.
“It is a completely healthy and ecological product, because blueberries are grown without the use of any chemical preparations, in pots with a special type of soil,” Sušić told Nezavisne.
Over 300,000 BAM have been invested in the construction of the plantation, and it covers over 2.5 hectares.
The owners say that with a normal yield per month per hectare they can earn around 10,000 BAM, but they point out that cultivation is neither cheap nor easy.
“Growing blueberries is very different from other fruits. It is very sensitive to water quality, soil and terrain preparation. It requires constant attention, irrigation, but also the purchase of quality seedlings. The first income can be expected only after three years“, explains Sušić.
He adds that in recent years there has been a great demand for blueberries on the European market, and that the advantage is that this crop only thrives in our area in June and July, when it reaches its highest price due to market shortages.
Producers point out that growing blueberries has numerous advantages over raspberries and strawberries because they bear fruit between 30 and 50 years, picking is easier, and the fruit is more stable and resistant to transport.
Also, blueberries have a longer harvesting period, which allows for better organization and utilization of labor.
In recent years, a large number of berry producers in the Una-Sana Canton, due to numerous problems in production and marketing, have decided to switch to planting and growing blueberries.
