ICR Group, which owns blueberry plantations in western Georgia, expects a harvest of 160–170 tons this year. Supervisory Board Chairman Kakha Khazaradze announced the information in an interview with BMGTV’s program Tsertili.
According to Khazaradze, the harvesting season is set to begin by the end of this week, and around 90% of the production will be exported. The company has already signed contracts with buyers in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Poland, and shipments are expected to begin in early June. He noted that demand for Georgian blueberries remains high, while supply is still insufficient, making it one of the few agricultural sectors where expansion is being considered.
ICR Group’s blueberry plantations cover around 40 hectares near Zugdidi. Khazaradze said the company has the capacity to expand the area by an additional 50 hectares, but a final decision has been delayed due to global uncertainty. He explained that such expansion would require an investment of around $3.5–4 million, while blueberry farming is a long-term project that only begins yielding results after 3–4 years, making short-term planning difficult.
ICR Group is one of Georgia’s largest retail sector companies, founded in 1993 and currently employing around 1,000 people. The company operates through several subsidiaries and is also active in agriculture, including its investment in blueberry production.
