Raspberries Are Returning Once Again to the Balkan Region

About three decades ago, raspberries began their migration from their traditional Balkan territories to the plain regions of Bulgaria. Areas in Plovdiv, Pleven, Razgrad, and Targovishte regions started to be planted with raspberry plantations, seeking better climate, soils, and irrigation. But global climate changes are gradually changing this trend. Raspberries, which are extremely sensitive to high temperatures and low air humidity, are once again finding refuge in the higher parts of the country – back in the Balkan Mountains. It is here that abandoned areas are beginning to be restored or new plantations are being created. "Global climate changes are pushing raspberries back into the Balkan Mountains," shared Bozhidar Petkov, chairman of the Bulgarian Association of Raspberry and Berry Producers (BAM-ya), during the opening of the Raspberry Festival. For the first time this year, the event was held in Samokov – from July 11 to 13, as part of a new initiative to tour different ...