Cherry farming in Ukraine remains underdeveloped despite the crop's high potential. However, Vadym Bortnyk, owner of Sady Polissya LLC, sees great opportunities in cherry cultivation. The company recently expanded its operations by planting a new cherry orchard in Velyka Omelyana, near Rivne.
Bortnyk emphasizes that cherries are a promising yet underrated crop in Ukraine. His goal is to establish large cherry orchards and later source additional produce from local growers for processing. The company has planted 8,000 Lutovka cherry seedlings across 8 hectares and plans to expand with another 12 hectares soon. Lutovka is a self-pollinating Polish variety mainly used for freezing and juice concentrate production.
One challenge of growing Lutovka cherries is their susceptibility to coccomycosis, a fungal disease requiring chemical treatment. To ensure safe and effective plant protection, Sady Polissya locates its new orchards away from residential areas. For fields near villages, the company uses biological treatments, while in other cases, high-quality chemical solutions are applied.
The orchard is designed for mechanized harvesting, with trees planted in a 2 x 4-meter layout to accommodate harvesters.
Sady Polissya also plans to plant 20 hectares of hazelnut orchards as part of a government grant program. With proper technology and planning, Bortnyk aims to turn cherry farming into a profitable industry in Ukraine.
Source: techhorticulture.com