Think growing blueberries is just a walk in the park? Think again! Milena Stojmenović from Pavlovac near Vranje and her family are fighting a daily battle with nature and the market. This year, despite April frost reducing their yield by about 15%, they are not giving up on harvesting the Djuk variety, known for its top quality. Harvesting starts only after 7 AM when the dew lifts and ends late in the evening with breaks for lunch and rest. The family carefully picks only ripe berries, meaning they have to repeat harvesting multiple times. All this for a kilogram of blueberries sold at 600 dinars, far from the expected price, as some buyers offered peanuts which the family refused.
Their secret? Natural solutions made from nettle, chicken manure, and horseradish leaves that protect plants from pests and help fruit development. Harvesting will continue until July, followed by pruning crucial for the next season. Though the work is hard and demanding, Milena and her family know every berry they pick is worth every drop of sweat and pain.
This story is not just about blueberries but about the struggle of small producers against nature and a market that often fails to recognize the true value of their work. If you’ve ever eaten juicy, tasty blueberries, remember there’s a lot of effort, love, and sacrifice behind them. So, how much are you willing to pay for quality? Or do you think it’s easy and blueberries just grow by themselves? Share your thoughts, maybe together we can change how we see local production!
