#Sevastopol #Agriculture #Artvin #Strawberries #ProductionExpansion #ImportSubstitution #LaborShortage
AO “Artvin” has been cultivating vineyards and fruits since 2006 in Verkhnesadovoy village. In addition to its core activities, the company has undertaken various initiatives to support the community. It distributes fruits to children’s homes, COVID-19 departments, and temporary shelters for refugees from Donbass and frontline fighters. To align with President Putin’s objectives, the enterprise has designed and initiated a comprehensive project to boost its performance. Several hundred million rubles have been invested in the company, resulting in the modernization of its facilities and the establishment of over 400 hectares of new perennial plantations.
The implementation of these tasks necessitates expanding production, acquiring new land for processing and storing agricultural products. According to Arturo Francisco Babenko, the CEO of “Artvin,” the continuous investments made by the company’s investor have facilitated its modernization and expansion on newly acquired lands. Recent achievements include the renovation of dormitories for seasonal workers, continuous professional development for agronomists, and the active restoration of an old winery purchased by the company. Furthermore, after the winter snowfall of 2021 damaged the company’s strawberry greenhouses, they were almost entirely rebuilt. Presently, five varieties of garden strawberries, including Clare, Jolie, Quicky, Letitia, and Deli, are grown in tunnel greenhouses of the Verona type. Some of these varieties bear fruit until October or November.
During the harvest season, “Artvin” employees collect up to five tons of strawberries per day. The strawberries undergo sorting and undergo several stages to ensure high-quality transportation, including emergency freezing. By rapidly lowering the temperature to +2 degrees Celsius for 1.5 hours, the berries can be transported for up to three days without refrigeration. The majority of the harvest is sent to mainland regions of Russia, and major retail chains, such as “Azbuka Vkusa” and “Mercury,” purchase strawberries from Sevastopol farmers.
Despite providing competitive salaries, housing, meals, transportation, and benefits to its employees, “Artvin” continues to face a shortage of skilled workers. To address this, the company recruits agronomists and technologists from Serbia, France, and Italy. They also hire local residents, as well as individuals from Crimea, Dagestan, and Uzbekistan for fieldwork. This year, even schoolchildren are being involved in field operations.
