Cherry picking in Bulgaria’s Kyustendil region has begun with farmgate prices set at around 80 euro cents per kilogram, according to local producers. Farmers say the level is significantly low, while seasonal workers are currently being paid up to 50 euro cents per kilogram for harvesting.
Growers report that early cherry varieties have already been collected at similarly weak purchase prices, with most of the remaining production being directed toward the fresh fruit market. However, producers warn that overall returns remain under pressure due to market conditions.
Farmer and municipal councilor Valeri Yolev said pricing remains disappointing across the sector, noting that negotiations with pickers vary depending on demand and availability. He said “of course it is low”, adding that labor costs typically range between 35 and 50 euro cents per kilogram depending on agreement.
Yolev also explained that attempts to sell cherries for fresh consumption at prices between 1 and 1.3 euros per kilogram are proving difficult, citing an oversupplied market not only in Kyustendil but also in other major production regions such as Plovdiv.
At the same time, agricultural output has been affected by unfavorable weather conditions earlier in the season. Farmers estimate that spring frosts and cold spells in April damaged roughly half of the cherry orchards in the Kyustendil area, which covers around 20,000 acres, leading to expectations of another weak harvest for the second consecutive year.
