Georgia’s blueberry sector is facing a combination of structural challenges, including adverse weather conditions and a growing shortage of seasonal labor, according to BluBerria director Davit Doborjginidze. Speaking on the TV programme Analytics, he said this year’s harvest started about two weeks late due to unstable weather and remains significantly affected by frequent rainfall.
Doborjginidze noted that labor shortages have become the most critical issue, as the short harvesting window requires large numbers of workers that the local market cannot supply. He said the company has already raised the need for foreign labor, describing it as a necessity rather than a recommendation.
Following a meeting with the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, exporters were offered new policy tools, including a proposed Exporters’ Council and plans to diversify markets toward Central Asia and the Middle East. The BluBerria director welcomed improved coordination, saying better communication between government and business would be beneficial.
He also emphasized that access to European markets is not limited by political or bureaucratic barriers, but rather by producers’ ability to meet strict quality standards. Doborjginidze added that beyond state support programmes, the sector needs more practical assistance, such as cold storage infrastructure and better access to technical consulting services.
