Raspberry Producers Unhappy with Purchase Price, Considering Protest outside Government Building

Raspberry (BETAPHOTO/DRAGAN GOJIC)

Mileta Pilcevic, the head of the Association of Raspberry Growers Vilamet, on July 2 said that association members were unhappy with the purchase price and the payment schedule, adding that on July 3 they would decide whether to take to the streets or protest outside the government building. Pilcevic told BETA that he had sought a meeting with the Agriculture Ministry to discuss the problems with raspberry purchase price and delays in payment. 

“We will have Steering Committee meeting on July 3 and producers will say whether they are happy with the purchase price and payment dynamics, but they cannot be happy. So we will see how we will stage our protest – by taking to the streets or protesting outside the government building, unless line Minister Aleksandar Martinovic meanwhile decides to invite us for a meeting to discuss whether harvest and sale of raspberries will end this way, or a solution will be found,” Pilcevic said.

He also said that “a kilogram of raspberries” in a Frikom package was sold for between RSD1500 and RSD1600 in Dis chain stores. “The owner of company Sirogojno, which purchases raspberries, has once said during a meeting that the retail price of raspberries has nothing to do with the price, stressing that he sells raspberries to Frikom for three euros and thereby he cannot say who makes profit of raspberries,” Pilcevic said.