Reaping the Bounty of the Forest

A northern Kosovo processing company expects to increase its output and double its permanent work force over the next three years with an expanded, modernized cold storage facility installed with USAID assistance. As Promet collects, cleans and processes the “fruits of the forest”, such as wild berries and mushrooms. The plant’s capacity was constrained by old equipment, lack of adequate freezer space and the fact that it did not meet international food safety standards.

USAID stepped in with two in-kind grants that allowed the company to expand its operation and increase profits by locally producing more value-added items (“finished” food products) that command higher market prices. The new facility was constructed according to the requirements of the internationally recognized HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Points) approach to food safety management, and the company is in the process of obtaining HACCP safety certification.

On July 7, 2011, USAID representatives joined the owner and workers at the As Promet plant in Leposavic for an event inaugurating the larger freezer, featuring tastings of raspberries, blueberries and wild mushrooms. The improved facility was made possible under USAID’s Kosovo Private Enterprise Program (KPEP). The program’s objective is to stimulate the private sector and increase the competitiveness of Kosovo's economy.