Role of Traditional Fruit Farming in Regional Development

On the next day after arrival, we attended the conference at the Agricultural University in Bucharest where we learned something about growing corn, tomatoes, fruit trees, trade with soya, etc. After the conference, we visited the local open air museum with the typical architecture of old villages in Romania. Soon after, we visited the Natural Science Museum with the exhibits of local and world flora and fauna, humans, etc. In the following days, we visited the orchard of a local family; the people were very nice and helpful; they grow trees of apples, plums, pears, quince, cherries and much more. We visited the Baroque-style church in Arges County where the first and second Romanian kings and their wives are buried. The church is surrounded by beautiful gardens; there are many young people attending the church, those who are proud of their traditions. After visiting the church, we went to the local mountains where we climbed up on about 1,475 stairs. The mountains were beautiful and covered by forests. There were many rock formations and the lake called Vidraru (former communist symbol). We started the next day at the research institute for growing fruits. This is the huge area with orchards, research laboratories and the main building where we were listening to presentation about the centre and about fruit growing in Romania. The Research Institute has several other branches in the country, reflecting the widely diverging climate in these areas. We went to the orchards which are partly protected by nets against birds. There are traditional varieties and also the varieties cultivated by them. The trees are then sold to local fruit farmers. The institute conducts research aimed to response of certain varieties to the environment, climate and soil. The instrument for measuring growth of plums was very interesting. It sends the measured values to the central computer. We learned that nowadays the demand of red fruits is rapidly increasing, because it contains antioxidants and therefore it is sought after by the people. Then we visited the virology and micro-biological departments where diseases of fruit trees have been examined. There are new plants grown in tubes, these shall grow a little bit in rooms and greenhouses before they are planted into soil. In the orchards, in addition to the typical types of fruits (apples, pears, plums, cherries), there are also sea buckthorns, amelanchier alnifolia, damascena roses and various types of berries, such as blueberries, currants, etc. Then we left the Research Institute and went to the cannery where fruit, vegetables and meats are processed. Due to hygienic reasons, we were allowed to enter only in protective clothes and with hair net. Then we went to the monastery inhabited by 11 nuns. The monastery also includes the farm with orchard, greenhouses, pigs, chicken and cows. The nuns take care of this almost without any help. On Tuesday, which was the day of our departure, we visited another orchard where we learned something about fruit trade. We also visited the warehouse for fruits and then we went back home. It was a very informative, interesting and enjoyable week.

Detailed program of the Romanian Mobility:


FRIDAY, 10th of June
08:00 - Departure from Avis Hotel
09:30 - 11:00 –Participation of Conference “Agriculture for Life - Life for Agriculture” at University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Bucharest
11:00 - 11:30 – Departure to “Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History
11:30 - 13:00 – “Grigore Antipa” National Museum of Natural History
14:00 - Lunch in Herastrau Park
15:00 - Thematic visit in Bucharest (Village Museum, etc.)
19.00 - Return to Avis hotel


Photos from this day


SATURDAY, 11st of June
9:00 - Departure to Arges County
11:00 -Visit to fruit farming in Bogati village, Arges County
13:00 - Lunch at Pitesti City
15:00 - Processing of Fruits – Company MGC Topoloveni (to be confirmed)
17:00 - Accomodation at Agrotourism pension – The Pension "Bear Valley", Bear Valley village, Arges County
20:00 - Coordinators meeting – schedule of the week / presentations, worksheets, discussion about curriculum.

Photos from this day


SUNDAY, 12th of June
9:15 - Departure to Curtea de Arges fruit growing region
Specific livelihoods activity in Arges county –fruit free market, fruits processing, agrotourism
11:00 -14:00 – Visit of Curtea de Arges Royal Church, Poenari Castle
14:00 - Lunch at Poenari Castle
14:30 - Visit of Vidraru Lake

Photos from this day


MONDAY, 13th of June
8:30 – Departure to Research and Development Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti - Mărăcineni
9:00 – 12:00 – Visit of Research and Development Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti - Mărăcineni
13.00 - Lunch
14:00 - 18:00 - Visit of fruit farming and processing units in Maracineni area
18:00 – Departure to the pension
20:00 - Farewell Dinner at the Pension
After dinner - Final project meeting – Final report

Photos from this day


TUESDAY, 14th of June
8:30 - Departure to Research and Development Station for Fruit Growing of Voinesti, Dambovita County
10:00 - 14:00 - Visit of the Research and Development Station for Fruit Growing of Voinesti
- Visit of company for storage of fruits in Voinesti - Processing of Fruits Unit in Voinesti Area (Bughea de Jos, Aninoasa)
14:00- Lunch
15:00 - Departure to Bucharest
19:00 - Dinner at Avis Hotel

Photos from this day


WEDNESDAY, 15th of June
Departure of participants

On Tuesday, April 25, 2017, some pupils of our school participated in the well-known program of "Fruitfarming" under the European Program Erasmus+. This time we went to the northeast of Poland, near the Belarusian border. We were based in the town Supraśl and there were star-shaped excursions to surrounding farms held. There are about 4.5 thousand inhabitants; the town area covers 6 km2.

We walked through this beautiful town on the very first day in the morning. First of all, we saw the huge monastery, built in Renaissance style. There is also the museum in the monastery; unfortunately we could not visit it due to the off-season opening hours. Then we walked along the river and the adjacent park. The historical character of the town is supported by the fact that the town is not interfered by concrete buildings. All-wooden buildings, including family houses, are typical for the town of Supraśl and even for the whole northeast region of Poland. The short walk is over; we get on the coach to visit the largest blueberry farm in Europe. On the way, we see nothing but the large field or meadows, sometimes interwoven by pine forests and birch woods.

The blueberry farm covers the area of 600 hectares, which means it the largest blueberry farm in Europe. This primacy can be realized thanks to diligence and tenacity of the Wilczewski family. The first attempts to plant blueberries occurred in 1995, however without any success. So, everything began a year later. The first seedlings were imported from America and Morocco. Preparation of blueberry bushes takes time of about 2 years (once they reach the height of 40-60 cm), while in a plastic greenhouse before being planted on the field. Mr. Jerzy Wilczewscy, the family farm owner, says that a good year is when the plant gives about 4 kg of fruit. The farm owner eliminates wildlife animal damage by thorough fencing of all the hunting areas. The farm is actually used in experimental ways, due to testing of new varieties (this is not done anywhere else in Europe). They grow the following varieties, for example: Toro, Arora, Liberty, Red King, Draper. Blueberry bushes are fertilized and chemically treated - but such in the ways the pollinators are not affected by. They buy up to 300 bumble-bee hives every year to get even higher productivity. They do not process the blueberries any further; they export them in fresh state throughout Europe, Russia and even to Japan.

In addition to blueberry plantations, the family owns the deer field with the size of 400ha; the animals are grown for both meat and trophy shooting. Previously, they used to have even 400 pieces of deer; today they have only 200 of them. One animal gives about 100 kg of meat.

In winter times, the whole family travels around the world to watch what others do, focusing mainly on storage and maintenance of blueberries in their natural state. We were given some food and refreshment after finishing the presentation of their farm.

The afternoon program of organic apple tree cultivation was cancelled. Instead, we had tour of the town of Białystok where we spent 2 hours. And this is the end of the Tuesday’s program.

On Wednesday, we visited the family farm dedicated to cultivation of aronias. Aronia is a type of small red fruits currently very popular due to positive effects on human health. It mainly works against civilization diseases, eye diseases, high blood pressure and also as the total detoxication to clean the body. Like most small fruits, it is also used for making juices, jams and marmalades, wines, etc. Since it is not appealing to all people as for its taste, it is often processed in combination with other fruits, such as pears, or together with apple cider. It is very well resistant against freezing temperatures and non-vulnerable to diseases. The price of organic aronia is about 0.5 EUR / 1kg.

The farm began to grow this plant in 2005; this kind of cultivation is very popular in the northeast of Poland. The plantation was awarded with the organic cultivation certificate, applicable throughout Europe for the purpose of export. In the region, this certificate is held by only one other farm nearby, even though other farms also meet the conditions for organic farming. Well, the others have not yet asked for the certificate. Fruits of aronia are harvested right after harvesting the currants in September, using a harvester to shake the fruits out of the plants, but also manually with 8 permanent employees in the farm. Easy harvesting is assisted by properly cutting of plants which are not fertilized to prevent rapid growth. Aronia is grown at the distance of about 4 m between plant rows and 70-80 cm between the plants themselves. The total area of ​​the aronia plantation is 1.3ha. This area gives the average annual yield of 9-10 tons of fruits of aronia. However, the total area of ​​all lands, even out of the plantation, is about 10ha; the owners run Agro ecotourism, they organize workshops, such as those for cheese production, wickerwork products, etc. This is the very popular and well-known place because the farm even won the prize for the best organic farm.

Later, we moved to another agrotouristic site, that one called Gifts of Natura, focusing on organic growing and processing of herbs. In the large site there were many places interesting for tourists, up to 80 persons can be accommodated and spend their free time; there is also the old wooden Catholic church of the 17th Century; there are also the halls overall processing and production of herbal products. About 100 collectors and employees are responsible for processing, care and mainly collection.

The enterprise has been operating for 25 years and producing a wide range of products of organic cultivation on herbaceous plantations. The products include, for example, cold-pressed oils, such as hempy, linseed, pumpkin, beetroot, chia, thistle, nigella or pink oils (mainly the unprocessed residues are used during production of this oil to make cakes used as animal feed). Coconut oil is a very special product; it must be prepared separately at a different temperature and cannot be used, for example, for frying; however, it is very popular in cosmetics as balsam. Another factory hall is used for production of express teas (tea bags), using a mechanical machine. Then we saw packing workshop for spice packs (curcumin, saffron - cannot be collected mechanically and therefore it is expensive, cardamom and many others), strewn herbal teas, etc. All the products are produced as those free of sodium glutamate. In the course of 5 years, the site will be expanded by laboratories to assess safety of products (samples have currently been sent to other laboratories).

However, before the plants reach the production halls, they have to grow on large plantations which are divided into several parts, such as those for forest plants, aquatic plants, those for classic herb cultivation, etc. In the forest, we saw the very rare Lycopodium Clavatum, Athyrium Filix (young tillers are edible, those older are poisonous), Pulmonaria Officinalis (for respiratory tracts), Hepatica Nobilis (for inflammation of liver) and typical forest plants such as anemones, Aegopodium Podagraria, nettles (those young as well as those for eating) and also Oxalis Acetosella or also the invasive plants like for instance hogweed. And, of course, we must mention Hierochloe Odorata, so ​​typical for this region, which is used to prepare the alcoholic drink called Zubrovka.

Blueberry Plantations 25.4.2017 The family farm run by Mr. Jerzy Wielczewsci with his wife and two sons.

The total area of ​​the farm is 1,000ha; the area of 400ha is intended for growing blueberries - it is the largest plantation in Europe where over 4,000 people work during a season, which means 300 people per weekend. The first blueberry was planted in 1995. They buy blueberries seedlings and grow them in greenhouses. When they are 50cm high, they are planted out on a plantation and then they are cut every year to get a certain height. The best varieties of all over the world are present only here in the farm due to the fact that the seedlings would have lost their value if being in more farms. Some varieties, for example those in Morocco, give fruits only within the period of 7 years, so, conditions for growth and climate are very important because the same variety elsewhere gives the fruits within other periods of time. Blueberries are exported as fresh ones to Europe and Russia; they were even sold in Japan; the most expensive price of blueberries was 150 EUR per kilogram. They are good for eyes and therefore they are used by American pilots who need to have "four" eyes. In case of good and fertile season, one plant gives 4kg per year. Good blueberries are, for example, Toro or Red King. The farm has been drawing funds from the EU. But it is still just a small part of what they invest. In the winter times, they go to other farms to see how the things are there, but not only for operation of a farm; they are also interested in marketing. They buy their bumblebees because they are able to reach further than bees; they buy 300 hives for one year.

In the remaining area of 600ha, the family grows deer. In 2006, they had more than 380ha of pastures in the town called Ruda and 500ha of pastures in Szudzialowo a Krynki, district of Sokolski. Animals are protected by the 100-kilometre fence. This place is considered to be the cleanest area in Poland. Even the experienced farmers from Scotland, England, Czech Republic, Hungary and France come to learn in this farm. They are planning to increase the number of deer to several thousand in the next few years, which will make them the largest breeding farm of deer in Europe.

National Park of White Tower (Bialowieza)

It is the most famous national park in Poland and perhaps in the entire European territory. It lies on the border of Poland and Belarus. It also includes the Museum of the Bialowieza National Park where we can see preparations of several dozen species of animals living in the national park. At the border there is the fence dividing these two countries; tourists and animals are not allowed to go from one side to the other. The area is about 1,400 km2. The park is the UNESCO biosphere reserve. There are over 12,000 species of animals, most of which are insects, spiders, etc. There are also 32 species of fish, 250 species of birds (such as Haliaeetus Albicilla, Tetrao Urogallus, Ciconia nigra...) and 58 species of mammals (the most famous is European Bison, and also Tarpans - wild horses, wolves, mooses...). Bisons were completely exterminated in 1919. Last few individuals survived in the European ZOOs. However, Poland bought 4 bisons in 1923 and began to re-grow them. In 1939, the herd included 16 pieces of animals. Currently, 250-300 pieces of animals live in the Polish part; the park becomes crowded for them. In the Belarusian part, there are about 300 pieces of animals. So-called Zubroid is very interesting; it is the bison crossed with domestic cow. In recent years, wolves have also spread a lot; they begin to cause considerable damage in this area. For example, they attack dogs in nearby villages. Flora is also very rich here. Forests cover 96% of the total area of the national park. There are over 1,000 species of plants and trees growing here. There is also a very large number of trees reaching the trunk circumference of over 600cm at the height of 130cm. They are usually the oaks. The biggest one is so-called Big Mamamushi, having the circumference of 690cm, or also the Jagiellonian Oak under which Władysław Jagiełło was resting in 1410. All the trees which lose their lives in the national park for some reason remain in the forest; they are not taken away to be processed or used for burning. Time by time, the wood begins to decompose and can be used as a shelter and suitable place to live for various species of small animals. These are eaten by the larger ones; it means that ecosystem is completely preserved.

Workshop 1 - "Fruit Processing".
The workshop was held in Oldřišov near Opava on 10.11.2015. It was aimed to processing fruits as raw materials to produce apple ciders, brandies or baking fills. Local raw materials were used both from processed fruit - marmalade, compote; and those from fruit still being processed - apples, pears. The first part of the workshop was held at the local cider shop and then in the premises of the municipal office. Participants tried out how each product tastes and what is its specific taste when using old and regional varieties combined with old recipes. Participants were acquainted with recipes and procedures for preserving fruits and products made of them. They tried out some recipes. The workshop continued in the distillery shop in the neighbouring village called Hněvošice; this distillery shop deals with processing of fruits from private suppliers. The event was attended by education providers in the branches of biology and geography, those from local Opava schools, as well as the members of gardening associations from regional villages. The event was also attended by representatives of our Polish partner (5 persons) as well as representatives of our partner from MSŠZ and VOŠ (Masaryk´s Secondary School of Agriculture and Higher Professional School in Opava) (8 persons). In total, the event was attended by 44 persons. Lecturers: Mr. Radim Lokoč, Mr. Jakub Kubačka, Mr. Ondřej Dovala, Ms. Jana Schossarková. The event took time of about 5 hours.

Workshop 2 - "Tree Treatment in Spring, Cutting and Nursing".
The event was held in the Masaryk´s Secondary School of Agriculture and Higher Professional School in Opava and in its orchard area, on 15.3.2016. While compared to the time schedule of the project application, the event took place a month later due to more appropriate weather. Lecturers: Mr. Radim Lokoč, Mr. Jakub Kubačka, Mr. Ondřej Dovala, Mr. Kamil Ondrušák and Mr. Petr Kořený. The practical workshop was aimed to treatment of trees, mainly spring maintenance - cutting. Participants were acquainted with the theory of cutting of different varieties of fruits - apple, pear, stone fruits, currants, etc. Furthermore, they were acquainted with the principles of cuts of old trees, educational cuts, maintenance cuts, etc. The lecturers demonstrated it on model trees and the participants could also try it out. There is lack of "experimental" trees in the campus. The special chapter of the workshop belonged to introduction of conventional treatment products and methods of tree treatment against pests in contrast to bio and alternative processes and products. The event was attended by the students from local schools as well as the education providers from schools and non-profit organizations and gardening associations. The event was also attended by representatives of our Polish partner (5 persons) as well as representatives of our partner from MSŠZ and VOŠ (Masaryk´s Secondary School of Agriculture and Higher Professional School in Opava) (8 persons). In total there were 50 persons. The event took time of 3 hours.

Workshop 3 - "Marketing and Presentation of Local Fruit Products - Local Cuisine".
The event was held on 8.7. 2016 in the village called Bolatice, near Opava, where many different fruit recipes of local cuisine were presented in the local regional open-air museum, currants, plums, sour cherries and sweet cherries. The participants could try out baking cakes, pies or patsies or they also could conserve the fruits. They could also create side dish to meats. The event was attended by the education providers from schools and non-profit organizations and gardening associations (lecturers and students), as well as the people of general public. The event was also attended by representatives of our Polish partner (5 persons) as well as representatives of our partner from MSŠZ and VOŠ (Masaryk´s Secondary School of Agriculture and Higher Professional School in Opava) (4 persons). In total there were 38 persons. The event took time of 6 hours. Lecturers: Mr. Jakub Kubačka, Mr. Radim Lokoč, Ms. Jana Schossárková and Ms. Jitka Hartmannová from Natura Opava and also Mr. Jiří Soška from the company called Vitaminator. The second part of the workshop was also held in the village called Sosnová, Opava Region, where the participants were taken by bus. There we visited the company called Vitaminator which deals with production of BIO-ciders and snacks. Mr. Jiří Sošek, the owner, showed us round his orchards and presented the production process to us. He also introduced philosophy of the company, its history and plans for the future.

Workshop 4 - "Old and Regional Fruit Varieties".
This event was held on two genofond orchards near Opava, on 20 September 2017: Oldřišov and Závada. It was moved from January 2017 to September 2017 due to more appropriate weather and seasonality. The workshop also included tasting of many different types of old and regional fruit varieties. The workshop was also aimed to showing the methods of using the new educational material. Therefore, it was held after finalization. The workshop was attended by education providers from schools and non-profit organizations and also from gardening associations (lecturers and students), including the representatives of our Polish partner; the new educational handbook was presented. The event was attended by 42 persons - participants. The lecturers were from Natura Opava: Mr. Jakub Kubačka, Mr. Milan Kubačka, Mr. Radim Lokoč, Mr. Ondřej Dovala and Mr. Adrian Czernik.