Serbia at BioFach

From Serbia, organic raspberries, delicate preserves made from wild blueberries, wild strawberries and cornelian cherries are available as well as organic whole wheat, pomegranate vinegar, pumpkin seed oil and sunflower seed butter. Well-known for its high quality fruit and other food, Serbia is now offering more and more organic products. Serbia has a good potential for organic production in Europe - up to 15% of all arable land is available for organic certification.

(Picture: Organic Fruit from BMD)

Organic production and certification is in full swing in Serbia, according to Natasa Vujovic of the Serbian Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA), and he continues that Serbian companies are launching many new quality organic products. Since international buyers like the conventional produce, he is sure they will love the country’s organics as well.

Seven Serbian companies exhibited at BioFach in Nuremberg, the presence was assisted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia, SIEPA, GTZ and the USAID Agribusiness Project.

Suncokret offers cold pressed unrefined organic pumpkin seed oil, cold pressed unrefined sunflower oil, and sesame and flax seed oils. The company's unique range of organic seed butter is of special interest – pumpkin, sunflower and sesame. Also, pomegranate-based products - oil, vinegar and juice, rich in antioxidants, are certified organic and available for sale since 2007. The range also consists of a line of organic cosmetics and aromatherapy. Products are EEC 2092/91 certified by BCS-Öko-Garantie. www.suncokret.co.yu

Zitohem is an organizer of organic production in the region of Middle Banat and already has associates producing organic wheat, soy and certain vegetables. At BioFach their organic wheat was presented fort he first time. Zitohem is currently expanding to organic apple chips and mixed salads production. www.zitohem.co.yu

BMD processes, packs and sells wild mushrooms and wild berries (Pictures: top left and right). The family business was established in 1989 and the company’s product line includes Porcini, Chanterelle, Dark Chanterelle, Black Trumpet, and Morel mushrooms. The options include fresh, sun dried, frozen and packed in brine. Raspberries, wild strawberries and wild blueberries are also available. All BMD’s products are EEC 2092/91 certified organic by BCS-Öko Garantie and are available for co-packaging. www.bmd.co.yu

Zadrugar is a frozen fruit processor from the heart of Serbia’s berry country. With capacity of 4,000 tons annually, Zadrugar supplies high quality frozen raspberries and blackberries to markets across Europe and North America. Certified EEC 2092/91 and NOP organic by Ecocert CA, Zadrugar also has HACCP, ISO 9001-2000 and Kosher certification. In 2006, Zadrugar received superior rating from the American Institute of Baking. www.fruit.co.yu

The Foodland organic line includes traditional slatko fruit preserves, jams and juices. Slatko fruit preserves are made from wild strawberries, wild blueberries, wild blackberries, raspberries, and sour cherries. Flavours include classic plum, rose hip, sour cherry, Cornelian cherry, raspberry, apple, and peach as well as Foodland’s new elderberry juice and NFC blueberry juice. All products are certified organic - EEC 2092/91 by BCS-Öko-Garantie. www.foodland.co.yu

Marni was founded in 1983 and is the national leader in processing and packing pristine forest mushrooms (Picture). The product line includes Boletus edulis, Chanterelle, Black trumpet (Craterelus) and Morchella mushrooms. The range consists of fresh and preserved products in virgin sunflower oil or in brine, and dried mushrooms. Marni is a leading exporter of fresh mushrooms already selling their organic products to three continents -Europe, North America and Africa. www.marni.co.yu

Status organic line currently offers certified Aceta Aurelia vinegar made of wild apples. The company presented its exclusive product for the first time at BioFach and plans to export all of its 600,000 bottles. The vinegar contains 4% alcohol and is packed into 0.375l and 0.5l bottles. Apple vinegar with honey represents the latest addition to Status’ offer. The products are BCS and OCS certified. www.status-svrljig.co.yu

http://www.serbianfruit.com