Three Ukrainian producers of blueberries Working with the UA GROWERS export platform during the 2026 season, they will consolidate more than 350 hectares of fruit plantations, more than 2.000 square meters of storage infrastructure and automated sorting lines from Unitec and Elifab, with a combined capacity of up to 20 tons per day.

According to EastFruit, this initiative represents not only an integration of productive assets, but also the construction of a unified export strategy, a shared sales system, and a stronger position to enter the high-margin markets of the European Union.

The model brings together Nikdaria LLC, Family Garden LLC, and Vitamin UA LLC. According to Yevhenii Kharlan, coordinator of the UA GROWERS export platform, the companies will operate under a common system encompassing post-harvest handling, quality control, and commercial sales. In practice, this marks a shift from a model where each producer independently managed their sales, logistics, and exports to a centralized system where these key functions are integrated within a single professional platform.

This model gives producers the advantages of scale. Instead of duplicating sales teams, logistics functions, and export support, participants access a shared structure for managing business processes. This allows them to reduce operating costs, strengthen their negotiating power, and work more systematically with buyers. For buyers, not only volume matters, but also consistency of quality, predictability of supply, and clarity in service standards.

Another competitive advantage lies in organizing sales through a European trading operator in Antwerp, where the platform leases cold storage facilities. This approach allows for centralized fruit consolidation, condition monitoring, post-harvest handling, the creation of larger, more uniform lots, and the structuring of commercial operations within a European infrastructure. For buyers, this translates into lower operational risks and more predictable logistics; for Ukrainian producers, it means significantly faster access to the EU market and the opportunity to operate in more profitable segments.

A key aspect is that all three companies hold GlobalG.AP, GRASP, SMETA, SEDEX, CoC, and HACCP certifications. The combination of standardization, modern infrastructure, and a joint export model provides the necessary level of preparedness to work with highly demanding European retail chains and traders. This opens the door not only to increased export volumes but also to accessing high-margin markets where buyers value not only the fruit itself but also consistency, service, and predictable quality.

It is precisely the combination of production scale, infrastructure, and standardization that elevates the business to another level. “When you have scale, professional post-harvest handling, grading, a cold chain, and clear quality standards, a producer gains access to a completely different level of commercial opportunities in international markets,” stated Yevhenii Kharlan, head of the UA GROWERS platform.

Market players indicate that, for European buyers, price and volume are no longer the only relevant factors. The supplier's ability to ensure operational continuity, consistent quality standards, and professional support throughout the export process are also becoming increasingly important. This is precisely the logic behind UA GROWERS, which integrates Ukrainian blueberry producers into a shared sales system to compete more effectively in the international market.

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