Quince is slowly returning to the market in Serbia, with an increasing number of plantings and increased demand for quince products. In the village of Tuleš, in the parish area, the quince harvest is in full swing at the plantation of the Marjanović family, where this fruit is processed immediately after picking, which maintains the optimal level of sugar and freshness. The plantation is under expert supervision and all agrotechnical measures are applied, which contributed to the exceptional quality of the crop. The orchard, founded in 2018, includes 21,250 trees on an area of 33 hectares, making it the largest orchard in the Balkans.
During twenty years of work, the Marjanović family managed to consolidate an estate of 570 smaller plots, the average size of which is seven ares. Thanks to this, yields now reach 17 to 20 kilograms per tree. In full harvest, an annual production of 1,000 tons of quince is expected. Professor of the Faculty of Agriculture in Belgrade, Boban Đorđević, emphasizes that this year’s crop exceeded expectations. This is true despite climate challenges, such as early spring frosts and the emergence of ervinia, a bacterial infection favored by the cooler weather in April. Đorđević points out that all challenges were successfully prevented, which resulted in a high-quality yield.
Growing quince is profitable, if it is approached properly
On the plantation of Marjanović, quinces are immediately transported to the distillery, without additional costs or loss of time, which enables the preservation of the fruit’s freshness and optimal maturity. The distillery currently processes 550 tons of quince per year, but due to the growing crop, expansion of capacity and product range is being considered. The plan includes new products such as dried quinces, compote, as well as balanced flavors with other types of fruit, all in line with the growing consumer interest in various processed quince products.
Part of the processed fruit will be destined for the foreign market. All processes take place according to ecological standards, making the plantation self-sustainable and aligned with the principles of sustainable development. These investments and growing production represent a significant contribution to the economic revitalization of rural areas in Serbia. At the same time, quince regains its place on the market as a high-value fruit, recognizable by its unique aromatic and tasty characteristics.
The plantation of the Marjanović family has become an example of how fruit growing can be developed into a profitable and sustainable business, combining tradition with modern technology and innovations in processing.
Source: 24 Seven
Source: boljazemlja.com
