Arilje, a town in Serbia known as the Balkan country's 'raspberry capital,' is renowned worldwide for its high-quality berries exported to markets as far as the United States and Japan. Serbia ranks among the top three global exporters of raspberries, with Arilje accounting for about a fifth of the nation's raspberry exports.
Unique Raspberry Production in Arilje
Mileta Pilcevic, head of a local association of raspberry producers, said: 'We are born, we live and we die with raspberries. Arilje is unique in the world. You can't find a smaller place with such big concentration of raspberry production.' The municipality, with approximately 17,000 residents located some 170 kilometers (about 100 miles) from Belgrade, yields around 15,000-20,000 tons of raspberries annually.
The hilly landscape provides an ideal climate for raspberry cultivation. Berries from Arilje are grown without chemicals and picked by hand, ensuring high quality. Producers emphasize that the work is demanding, with fields taking at least two years to mature and requiring constant care to develop the globally recognized smell, taste, and aroma. 'Nothing must be done with machines or chemicals,' Pilcevic said.
Seasonal Workforce and Harvesting
Early summer marks the picking season, attracting seasonal workers from other countries, including India and elsewhere in South Asia. Local resident Nada Marinkovic noted that everything must be cleared by hand of weeds and grass, and the actual picking 'is only hard because of the sun.'
About 90 percent of Serbian raspberries are exported frozen, with the remainder sold fresh in domestic markets. Some producers offer direct sales of fruit and natural juices online. Frozen raspberries are primarily used in Europe for food processing, retail fruit, jams, yogurt, and bakery products.
Climate and Economic Challenges
This year's yield is expected to be 20-30 percent lower than normal, a consequence of last year's drought. Extreme weather, which experts say may be fueled by climate change, has become a growing concern for producers. Additionally, unstable purchase prices have brought uncertainty to the business in recent years. Pilcevic explained that too often, the price offered for raspberries leaves producers with little or no profit and without means to cover unpredictable costs.
The concern has led to protests on roads near Arilje in the past. 'It is not our job to be on the road but in the orchard,' Pilcevic said. 'But, believe me when I say that we will be on the road if we have to.'
Family Businesses and Future Outlook
Raspberry fields in the region have been run mostly as family businesses through generations. The industry faces an uncertain future as producers grapple with climate variability and economic pressures. Despite these challenges, Arilje remains a global symbol of premium raspberry production, with its berries sought after for their distinctive quality.
