Cucumbers – Georgia’s next export product

Georgia is increasing its export potential by adding more agriculture products to its export list, which will boost the local economy.

After success stories exporting blueberries, kiwifruit, nuts, wine, honey and herbs, Georgia now planned to offer locally grown cucumbers to consumers all over the world.

Russia is the first country to begin negotiations to import Georgian cucumbers.

Planta, a new brand within the Georgian Greenhouse Corporation, was one of the many cucumber growers that supplied the local and foreign markets. Today Planta cucumbers are available in almost every major supermarket in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi.

The greenhouse opened in January 2016 and is located in Gardabani, in Georgia’s Kvemo Kartli region. In 2014 the Georgian Co-Investment Fund announced it would invest in a $40 million USD greenhouse development project designed to boost the country’s growing agriculture sector and reduce its reliance on imports.

In an exclusive interview with Georgian online media Commersant, Georgian Greenhouse Corporation director Irakli Moistsrapishvili said Planta products had already entered the Russian market. In Russia Georgian products were "highly appreciated” he said.

Negotiations are underway with Russian distribution companies. After the talks end our products will be more widely represented in the export market,” Moistsrapishvili said.

Meanwhile Planta planned to expand its production and grow tomatoes.

By the end of 2016 Planta will offer consumers tomatoes, which will be distinguished by their high quality and exceptional taste. In the long run we do not exclude other vegetable production,” he said.

In one year Planta produced 2,000 tonnes of cucumbers. Moistsrapishvili said the annual production volume was expected to exceed 4,000 tonnes by the end of 2016, while the investment cost of the project will reach $21 million USD.