Serbia: Low purchase prices of raspberries

Farmers will not pick raspberries if buyers do not raise the price of these fruits. Processors currently offer 150-200 dinars per kilogram, said Dobrivoje Radović, representative of raspberry producers in Serbia. He added that the cost of harvesting this fruit alone is 150 dinars per kilogram. - We will not pick raspberries if the owners of the cold store do not offer higher prices. The current rates do not cover the costs of production and protection, Radovic said. He added that the minimum price of this fruit should be 350 dinars per kilogram. - Processors export raspberries for 5.5 euros, and they want to pay us 200 dinars. A trader cannot earn more than a producer, Radović said. Growers oppose low prices and are on strike. According to him, the state must prevent the import of cheap raspberries, which are mixed with local ones and sold under the local brand. Radović said the second problem is that the raspberry is rotting due to heavy rains. - Mass ripening has not started ...