As part of second annual Berry Festival, fresh berries were displayed and sold in downtown Pristina August 12 through August 23, 2013. The event invited raspberry and blackberry producers to display and sell their bountiful harvest of freshly picked berries to the general public. Kosovar farmers sold more than 6 tons of berries during the 10-day event.

USAID helped organize the festival as a consumer awareness raising efforts on the increasing availability of greater varieties of cultivated berries and wild blueberries. The event also encouraged farmers to expand their cultivation of these high-margin crops.

USAID has invested in Kosovo’s berry industry partially through introducing new variety of berries such as raspberries and strawberries that ripen well into the fall.  The first commercial blueberry harvest will occur in 2014.