New blueberry storage, processing enterprise opens in Georgia’s west

A new blueberry storage and processing enterprise, with a total investment of ₾2.3 million ($798,361/€787,383), has been launched in the western Georgian town of Khobi with the support of the Rural Development Agency.

The Agency announced on Tuesday the facility had the capacity to store and process 600 tonnes of blueberries seasonally through a ₾500,000 ($173,556/€171,170) grant from the body and a ₾1.4 million ($485,959/€479,276) preferential agro-credit.

Over 25 locals are involved in the production of blueberries designated for both export and local markets.

Giorgi Khanishvili, the Deputy Agriculture Minister, inspected the enterprise and said the Government programmes covered “all components” of the production value chain, including the introduction of international standards “so that local farmers can produce competitively”. Photo: Rural Development Agency

Blueberries have been planted on an area of 1,300 ha in western Georgia's Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region through the Plant The Future programme, the Agency said, adding state co-financing of the latter totalled more than ₾23.9 million ($8.2mln/€8.1mln).

The Agency has co-financed 21 processing and storage enterprises in the region, with state co-financing amounting to more than ₾10.5 million ($3.6mln/€3.5mln).