In Georgia, during the current fruit harvest season, farmers have supplied 9,000 tonnes of non-standard apples to collection entities, generating revenue exceeding ₾2 million ($3.29mln), as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture. Davit Tsitlidze, the head of the Rural Development Agency, highlighted that 12 enterprises are engaging in the acquisition of these apples across the nation, with the initial price set at 25 tetri per kilogram, supplemented by a 10 tetri governmental subsidy.
The objective, according to Tsitlidze, is to facilitate uninterrupted sales channels for agricultural producers, with the collection process slated to persist until December 15. His remarks came during a visit to the coordination center aimed at bolstering non-standard apple sales and the Shindisi fruit processing facility located in the Shida Kartli region. Shindisi has processed about 4,000 tonnes of such apples under the government scheme this year.
The government's initiative supports the processing of non-standard apples, with projections set at 50,000 tonnes of harvest. This endeavor involves 12 fruit processing firms operating at 14 locations across several Georgian regions including Shida Kartli, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Kakheti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, and Samtskhe-Javakheti, as per the Ministry's announcement.
Source: Agenda