Sour cherries in Serbia yield well, but buyers slash prices from last year's 300 to 70-80 dinars

Sour cherry producers in Serbia are facing a significant drop in prices, with buyers offering between 70 and 80 dinars per kilogram. This is a steep decline from the 300 dinars per kilogram seen last year, a situation that has producers concerned about their ability to cover production costs.

Ivan Josimov, who owns six hectares of sour cherry orchards in Bavanište, announced a meeting scheduled for June 14 in Belgrade. Producers and buyers are expected to discuss a "realistic price" for the current harvest. Josimov plans to propose that first-class cherries be priced at 180 dinars per kilogram and second-class at 150 dinars. He noted that the yield of first-class cherries is low this year due to dry conditions.

Hranislav Stojanović, a grower from Kostadinovo in the Merošina municipality, cultivates the indigenous Merošina or Oblacinska sour cherry variety across 15 hectares. While official prices have not yet been announced in his region, as harvesting begins after June 20, unofficial discussions suggest the price will remain at the low 70-80 dinar range. Stojanović described this as "humiliating" and insufficient to cover production expenses.

Producers fear that buyers will collude to set a uniform low price, with the state unable to prevent this monopolistic behavior. Although the harvest is good in many Serbian regions, the overall supply might be lower than expected due to the absence of last year's stock. Furthermore, frost damaged crops in Hungary and Bulgaria, and partially in Serbia, impacting the global supply. Stojanović also warned of a spreading pest, the "živogriz" (a type of beetle), which thrives in dry years and could decimate future harvests, leading to a potential absence of sour cherries in Serbia next year.