From Brus to America and Russia - Sweet Home is expanding exports and preparing organic production of raspberries and blackberries

From the import and trading in chocolates to one of thebiggest producers and exporters of frozen fruit – this is how sweet business ofSvetlane Miljković has grown a in two decades. Today, apart from frozen fruittrees, from Sweet Home in Brus, there are also ayvar, jam and sweet. The fruitsof the sunny slopes of Kopaonik, crushed by traditional recipe, turn intodelicacies in jars that travel abroad as well.

AsSvetlana Miljković, last year’s finalist for prestigious award of Flower ofsuccess for woman-dragon, says for eKapija, the plan is that this Brus-basedcompany in the next three years starts certified organic production of blackberry and raspberry. When they reach this objective, for which as Svetlana says they have to seriously push, dreamand open a new refrigerator, exclusively for organic products. But, all in goodtime, our collocutor says, adding that before start of organic farming, it isearly for a specific story.

Raspberries, blackberries, cherries,plums, strawberries, apricots, apricots, etc. The fruits that Sweet Homeprocesses, partly comes from their plantations, and partly in cooperation withproven subcontractors, who, as Svetlana says, have already introduced a"controlled production" system. Since this year, Sweet Home has beenpracticing it in its orchards. This means that special attention is paid toprotection, which is done under strict rules and with supervision. Plantationson the sunny slopes of Kopaonik, the Sweet Home with 8 hectares, expanded to17. And that`s not the end, our collocutor says, because if everything goessmoothly, they will spread even further.

In order to prevent sky deciding on their destiny, irrigation systems have beenintroduced, and their subcontractors are working according to the sameprinciple. Still, whether they want it or not, agriculture depends on the cardsgiven to her, so this year`s drought left a trail. However, not large - for athird of a smaller raspberry species, it is offset by the good results of sourcherry, strawberry and apricot, our collocutor says.

(SweetHome plantations at the slopes of Kopaonika)

Sweet Home is mainly export oriented - almost 95% of its products end up in EU, US and Canada markets, and only 5% are sold in Serbia. In our field, the best is ajvar, while abroad, as expected, the best sellers are frozen raspberries, blackberries and cherries.

In addition to Serbia, ajvar is ate in the United States, and there are also jams and candies. Special trick for success in this market, is the fact that Sweet Home prepares winter products de in a traditional way, with no additives and accessories. This is significant because US has a specific food quality control policy, our collocutor says.

This year, Sweet Home started exporting to Russia. However, these are only initial steps and " pulse measuring". A small amount of apples were placed on this demanding market. As Svetlana says, they hope that in the future, they will succeed in positioning themelves and being accepted.

Organic raspberry and blackberry planting is a new goal. In order to start certified organic production, significant preparations are necessary, and, according to our interlocutor, demanding way to go - on land preparation, obtaining of certificates, etc.

Thus, Sweet Home, which has 45 employees, is planning to reach it in three years.

"Drugs are prescribed as well"...

Speaking of "pure" production they are turning to, our interlocutor referred to a painful point of domestic agriculture - the uncontrolled use of protection products.

- We, as someone who has decided on controlled production and who has plans for organic farming, we ourselves choose for strict checks, limitations, etc. Nevertheless, I think it is necessary for the state to work on how the rules would be more strict and people more aware, to use scientific knowledge, "not just to spray around". You also buy prescription drugs, so why should spraying fruit be carried out as anyone likes? The state needs to be more involved - says "women dragon" Svetlana Miljkovic.

M.M.

M.M.

Sweet home Brus

UPŽ Srbije

Ekapija

Sweet Home

Association of Business Women of Serbia

UPŽ

Svetlana Miljković

Flower of success for the woman of the dragon

zmajice

zamjice 2016

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