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Professor Mirjana Bulatović from Michigan University visited Serbia between February 20 and March 10, 2009. The visit was organized by the USAID Agribusiness Project.

During her two-week stay in Serbia, Prof. Bulatović visited cooperatives and firms which produced apples and stone fruit, as well as private consultancy services. During these visits, Prof. Bulatović talked to the producers and got an insight into the current situation in the production of this fruit, and based on the information obtained regarding biggest problems , she provided advice and guidelines for their resolution.

Based on the conclusions she came to while touring the field, Prof. Bulatović held a seminar in Novi Sad on the technology of apple production, paying a special attention to the problems that appeared to be the most significant when she toured the field and spoke to the producers:

- Soil, varieties and apple growing forms
- Forecasting apple diseases
- Chemical thinning of fruit
- Symptoms of lack of macro and micro elements and
- Recommendations for fertilizing

In addition to Prof. Bulatović, in collaboration with the company Avital doo, distributor of Israeli irrigation equipment, Mr. Oscar Lutenberg held a lecture on the subject of contemporary trends in orchard fertilization. This seminar attended 45 representatives of cooperatives and companies which deal with this production.

Seminar related to these concrete subjects, based on the attendees’ reactions, proved to be very significant as a way to convey information on contemporary trends in production, which impact the quality of fruit and quantity of crop, as well as the extension of storage time, increase of the market value of goods and overall economic profitability of the fruit production.

During her stay in Serbia, Prof. Bulatović attended the seminar organized by the company Burlat Pro from Ritopek and gave a lecture on the new cherry varieties and technology of growing these cherries. More than 100 individual cherry producers from Ritopek attended this lecture, where the introduction of this new variety into the production was especially emphasized, since this new variety complied to the demands of the foreign markets.

During the month of March, the USAID Agribusiness Project in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management carried out one-day training on Safe Pesticide Use and Environmental Protection in twenty-four towns and cities in Serbia.

The training aimed at educating agricultural producers and agricultural service providers on the safe use and handling of pesticides as well as pesticide risk management, also covered issues such as the necessity of use of appropriate safety clothing and equipment; appropriate storage, application, and disposal of unused pesticides and used containers, pest resistance and overall environmental considerations associated with pesticide use.

The training was carried out by plant protection experts from thirty-three extension institutes in Serbia.

The overall goal of this activity is the production of safe and healthy food for human and animal consumption and the protection of the environment as improper pesticide use can also have adverse effects on the environment such as ground water contamination.

Production of healthy, high quality food is of paramount importance for the Serbian economy. Many countries have adopted and now enforce strict requirements regarding standardization and certification of processes and the quality of products. This poses rising technical constraints to Serbian agricultural exports that can only be removed by successful implementation of quality management systems and international standards.

During a visit to Zajecar in early April, Ambassador Munter handed out certificates to fifteen local farmers following their successful completion of the training on Safe Pesticide Use and Environmental Protection. The training took place in Zajecar on March 26th at the Center for Agricultural and Technological Research.

During this occasion, Ambassador Munter stated that 'The United States supports Serbian agriculture, through U.S. Department of Agriculture programs and USAID’s Agribusiness Program, because we firmly believe that a vibrant agricultural sector will once again play a key role in building Serbia’s economy and creating much needed jobs.... It is clear that the world is now recognizing what great products can be grown in Serbia, but it is important to pay attention to why they like Serbian products.  They like Serbian products because they are both delicious and natural. That is why it is so important to exercise caution and responsibility in using pesticides.  Using harmful products is bad for the environment, bad for consumer health and ultimately—bad for business.'

The last couple of months have been especially busy for the Marketing and Sales department at the USAID Agribusiness Project. The season of international agricultural fairs and trade shows kicked off in October with the SIAL Fair in Paris. Although the Fairs take place throughout the year, the schedule is particularly tense during the winter months.

USAID Agribusiness Project has assisted Serbian agricultural producers in accessing new international markets since the Project's inception in 2007. Assistance has been focused on a number of aspects consisting of market research, building international marketing skills, effective presentation at international fairs, media communication and marketing, sales negotiations, capacity building, international certifications and standards with the over arching goal of achieving increased sales and employment by Serbian companies.

The USAID Agribusiness team continuously works to establish international market linkages between international buyers and Serbian producers and assists companies in negotiations, contracting, product delivery and follow-up.

The team also works with Serbia's potential exporters in order to address issues that constrain their access to international markets. Barriers to entering international markets are consistently tackled through technical assistance addressing issues such as inappropriate packaging or branding. Regular training programs are held to inform and educate potential exporters regarding international market demands, expectations and possibilities. One of the most important aims is to enable, through targeted assistance, Serbian producers that have never exported to start doing so.

 Detailed market research ensures that the company product lines address the needs of specific markets demands. As such, different companies attend different International Fairs. Fruit Logistica Fair in Berlin draws producers of fresh produce, while the Gulfood Trade Show in Dubai targets buyers of canned produce and ingredients. The annual New York Fancy Food Show has proved to be an excellent venue for Serbian producers of Ajvar, chocolates, exotic forest mushrooms and fruit jams and preserves.

By the end of 2008, Serbian companies have reported delivered sales of over $16 million resulting from the fairs. In February 2009, following the Fruit Logistica international fresh produce fair, over $9 million worth of contracted sales were reported by companies with another $5 million in the negotiation stage. Two weeks later, following the BIOFACH Organic produce fair in Nurenburg, Serbian companies reported approximately $3 million in potential sales. In just six weeks, following participation at Fruit Logistica in Berlin, PRODEXPO in Moscow, Gulfood in Dubai, Biofach in Nurenburg and IFE in London, Serbian companies have reported $31 million in sales contracted and in negotiation.

After the fairs, the Project team continues to work with Serbian companies to provide follow-up assistance addressing capacity issues, certifications, packaging, standards, negotiations and sales. Sustainability is one of the primary results of the USAID Agribusiness Project coordination. Company personnel are trained to pursue these processes directly and to conduct market research and use information and contacts generated during Fairs to establish continuous supply to international buyers.
 

Serbian companies attending the IFE Fair in London are; Igda, Foodland, Jugprom, ITN, Jugotrejd, Nektar, Pionir, Libertas, Fructus, Herba, Sojaprotein, Interfood, Big Bull, Sirogojno and Elixir.  These companies will present a wide range of some of Serbia’s finest products including; dried mushrooms, frozen fruits, fresh cut vegetables and the famous Serbian fruit juices, jams, preserves and organic fruit juice concentrates.

The USAID Agribusiness Project has organized a series of meetings with potential buyers and distributors with the aim of introducing Serbia's exceptional quality products into new markets and strengthening and establishing new links with U.K. and International buyers.

The IFE Fair prides itself for being the only global food and drink event dedicated to innovation. This fair is focused on exhibition for the finished food, drink and hospitality industry where buyers from the worlds leading retailers, foodservice operators, wholesalers, distributors, importers, exporters and manufacturers come to see the latest food and drink products, ideas, solutions, innovations, trends and opportunities.
The export of Serbian food products has experienced exponential growth in the last few years and there are no signs of slowing. The quick adoption and rapid implementation of international standards and the introduction of new value-added products has ensured that Serbia is establishing itself as one of the most trusted exporters from South Eastern Europe.

Serbia's delicacies will be waiting for buyers at the North Hall N5247, every day from 10:00 to 17:00 from the 15th to the 18th of March.

The presentation of Serbian companies at IFE in London was made possible by The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia with the assistance of Serbia Investment & Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA), and the USAID Agribusiness Project.

For all additional information, please visit our website www.serbianfruit.com or contact us at info@serbianfruit.com

This year, for the sixth time, Serbian organic producers will present their produce to international buyers from all over the world at the BIOFACH Fair in Nuremberg. Between the 19th and the 22nd of February and under the slogan Organic Serbia, seven companies will show the finest selection of Serbian organic produce.

Being already a major supplier of fruit products to European markets, Serbia is now gaining recognition for certified organics. Growers and processors are expanding production, introducing new varieties, and implementing quality control procedures such as HACCP, EurepGAP, and ISO.

The team of companies taking part at BIOFACH this year are: Lion Foods, Sirogojno, Zadrugar, Suncokret, Mondi Serbia, Foodland and BMD. Companies will present a wide range of Serbia's best organic produce such as fresh, frozen and dried fruit and mushrooms; fresh juices, concentrates and fruit jams and various other organic products such as sunflower seed butter and pomegranate vinegars and oils.

Serbia’s exhibit at BioFach is sponsored by the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and supported by the Serbia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA), the German Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and the USAID Agribusiness Project.

This year, the BIOFACH Fair will be organized for the twentieth time. In 2008, BIOFACH hosted 2,764 exhibitors and some 46,500 trade visitors from 124 countries. According to Organic Monitor and IFOAM experts, in 2007, 40 billion US dollars worth of organic produce was traded worldwide. Serbian companies that participated at BIOFACH last year, reported close to 4 million Euros worth of sales as a result of their presentation at BIOFACH.