Agribusiness
- World leader in raspberry production, other key fruits are apples, plums, grapes and cherries
- Total fresh fruit production in Serbia in 2006 was over 24.8 million tons
- Total export of vegetables was 66 million tons in 2006
- Main export products by the quantity processed are: frozen fruit, juices and concentrates, preserved fruit and dried fruit, respectively
- The top five vegetable export products were: mushrooms, peas, peppers, potatoes, and onions
- Substantial areas for expanding organic production on more than 200,000 ha
- The lowest usage rates of artificial pesticide in Europe
FRUITS SECTOR
Currently, Serbian fruit sector industry exports juices, concentrates, purees, jams, and frozen and dried fruit. Demand for Serbian fruit is growing steadily, with exports showing an upward trend not just in quantity, but also in the number of countries which are becoming importers. The vast majority of Serbian exports go to the European Union, and as the EU’s health standards become stricter, many companies have naturally acquired quality standards such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and others.
Quality products, made from the finest raw materials will find their loyal buyers anywhere in the world. Investment opportunities in the fruit processing sector are provided primarily by the quality of raw materials that can be used in production. In addition, potential investors have all the necessary support from Serbia’s recognized fruit research institutes, as well as, a broad base of highly skilled technologists at their disposal.
Since agriculture has always been an important part of Serbia’s economy, there are a large number of fruit processing plants operating in the country. In addition, Serbia still has qualified labor with valuable experience, fertile soils and quality fruit. Investing in the modernization of Serbia’s fruit processing plants offers foreign investors an opportunity to create substantial cost savings in the industry and recover the cost of their investment quickly.
VEGETABLE SECTOR
The biggest producers of vegetables are located in the northern region and central parts of Serbia. Serbia is equally known for the production of high quality crops with year round supply (potatoes, pepper, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, and beans) and seasonal vegetable crops such as lettuce, leek and spring onion. Other major vegetable crops are also widely grown (spinach, carrots, zucchini, radish, red radish, horseradish, parsley, parsnip, and celery).
Creation of improved varieties and development of new cultivation methods are undertaken by a very compound network of state owned institutes, development organizations and universities. Research is focused mainly on technologically advanced vegetable production and leads to high quality environmentally friendly seed and vegetable crop production. Research programs are of great importance responding to the needs of commercial farms, and improving profitability of primary production and food industry.
The vegetable processing industry has significant development potential. Besides the annual vegetable production of over 2.2 million tons, there are significant surpluses used for processing and export. The vegetable processing industry in Serbia encompasses roughly 25 companies with the capacity for production of frozen, canned and dried vegetables in compliance with globally established quality standards, HACCP and ISO.
ORGANIC SECTOR
There is a wide range of organically produced raspberries, sour cherries, prunes, organic frozen products like strawberries, blackberries, apples, vegetables and other juice concentrates, dried prunes and other dried fruit, wheat, barley, sunflower, corn, pumpkin seed.
Organic food production has a long standing tradition in Serbia. This is especially true in the field of fruit and vegetable production. There is an existing production of 200,000 ha and a strong inclination towards expansion. As Serbia is considered to be a country with one of the lowest rate of pesticides utilization in Europe (40 kg per ha), the growth of organic food production will be easy to achieve.
Forest communities in Serbia are abound with wild berries and collecting is traditionally present in rural economies. Wild fruits are processed in households as a part of tradition, particularly in hilly and mountainous regions, but also in lowland rural areas. In mountainous regions, the population mostly gathers blueberry, juniper blackberry, roseberry, dog rose, forest strawberry and, in hilly region, walnut, hazelnut, pomes and drupes etc. In lowlands, quite often they use elderberry and alike. Most of the harvested organic food is exported to foreign markets where this type of Serbian good is highly rated.
