FRUIT&NUT UKRAINE 2026 — STONE FRUITS, POME FRUITS AND NUTS: AN EVENT THAT UNITED THE INDUSTRY FROM CULTIVATION TO EXPORT

The 48th International Scientific and Practical Conference “Fruit&Nut Ukraine 2026: Stone Fruits, Pome Fruits and Nuts” was held on May 26–28, 2026, in Vinnytsia (Gostevia Hotel). The event focused on modern technologies for growing pome and stone fruit crops, nuts, fruit and berry processing, and the development of sales markets.

The conference was organized by the media group “Technologies and Innovations”, publisher of the leading industry magazines “Yahidnyk (Berry Field)”, “Horticulture and Vegetable Growing. Technologies and Innovations”, and “Drinks & Beer. Technologies and Innovations.” Fruit&Nut Ukraine 2026 brought together a wide range of professionals from the fruit and vegetable sector, including fruit, berry, and nut growers, processors, exporters, technology providers, researchers, and traders from all regions of Ukraine. More than 250 leading industry representatives participated, representing businesses from Zakarpattia, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia, and other regions. The conference aimed to unite representatives of the fruit, berry, and nut sectors, facilitate knowledge exchange, promote innovation, and strengthen the competitiveness of the industry.

On May 26, the Berry&Fruit Academy was held, focusing on orchard and berry plantation establishment and management, current varieties, and the requirements of the processing industry.

On May 27, Ukrainian and international experts from the United Kingdom, Poland, and Spain delivered presentations. The program included case studies from leading Ukrainian enterprises, panel discussions, a technology and equipment exhibition, and a tasting area featuring products from more than 50 exhibitors.

On May 28, participants joined a business tour to leading enterprises in the Vinnytsia region — Dudikov LLC and Fruktona VN LLC.

Main Technology Partner: EFT Group

Main Legal Partner: IP and Law firm Pakharenko & Partners

Main Industry Partner: Ukrainian Association of Horticulture and Viticulture Producers (UKRSADVYNPROM)

Main Industry Partner: Ukrainian Blueberry Growers Association

Industry Partner: Vinnytsiasadvynprom Association.

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Opening of the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Fruit&Nut Ukraine 2026: Stone Fruits, Pome Fruits and Nuts” began with welcoming remarks from the founders of the media group “Technologies and Innovations” and organizers of the event, Kateryna Konieva and Nadiia Yashchuk. In their address, they welcomed the participants and partners of the conference and expressed their gratitude for the support and trust shown toward this initiative aimed at developing the fruit and berry sector and promoting the implementation of innovative technologies in production and processing.

“Today, our team consists of more than ten employees, each responsible for a specific area of work. We, Kateryna Konieva and Nadiia Yashchuk, founded the media group ‘Technologies and Innovations’ 15 years ago. During this time, we have built strong media platforms for industry professionals. It was exactly ten years ago, in these May days, that the first issue of the journal Yahidnyk (Berry Field) was published. Since then, it has become a respected professional publication not only in Ukraine but also among our international partners. We are also pleased to present our other publications — Horticulture and Vegetable Growing. Technologies and Innovations, the Nut Wood project, and Drinks & Beer. Technologies and Innovations. Today, we can confidently say that our events, including Fruit&Nut Ukraine 2026, are much more than conferences. They are a platform where all components of the fruit and berry business come together: horticulture, berry growing, nut production, winemaking, juice production, export activities, and future technologies.тTogether with our professional publications, our conference projects create a unified ecosystem of knowledge, bringing people together, enabling them to meet, exchange experience, find partners, and move the industry forward collectively.”

The welcoming speeches was also joined by Beikhan Turgay, Director of Zhahnivka LLC and representative of the Ukrainian Blueberry Growers Association, the Conference’s and Academy’s Chief Berry Partner. The Association was established in 2025 as a professional community of producers dedicated to developing the blueberry industry, implementing modern technologies, and strengthening the position of Ukrainian blueberries in both domestic and international markets. Today, the Association already unites 48 producers.

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Current State and Prospects of the Horticultural Industry

The current state of the horticultural sector and its future prospects, with a particular focus on financing opportunities—including grants, loans, investments, and exports—as well as the practical experience of market participants, were presented by Volodymyr Pechko, President of the Ukrainian Horticulture and Viticulture Association (UKRSADVYNPROM) and Acting Academic Secretary of the Department of Scientific Support for Innovative Development of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine (NAAS), the Conference’s Main Industry Partner.

“According to scientific research, the leading regions in fruit and berry production today are Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Chernivtsi, Zakarpattia, Lviv, Poltava, and Rivne regions. Apple orchards, blueberries, raspberries, nut crops, and strawberries are developing particularly rapidly, as these crops possess the greatest export potential. Within the framework of the state budget program, ‘Providing of Grants for the Creation or Development of Businesses,’ the government is implementing systematic support for the horticulture, berry-growing, and viticulture sectors. During the period from 2022 to 2025, the program demonstrated significant results in terms of financial performance, regional development, and job creation. The total amount of grants disbursed during this period reached UAH 1,125,483,451.66.”

Serhii Boichuk, Chairman of the Vinnytsiasadvynprom Corporation, the event’s Industry Partner, spoke about the horticultural sector in the Vinnytsia region, the structure of production, and future development prospects:

“Today, horticulture is experiencing certain challenges: product prices are not increasing, while production costs continue to rise. Ukraine has grant programs in place, and, at our initiative, several important amendments have been introduced. Since 2025, the employment requirements under the grant program have been revised. Previously, for an orchard of 25 hectares, it was necessary to employ 250 people annually. Under the updated regulations, the requirement is to provide 250 jobs over a five-year period. Amendments have also been introduced to the grant program supporting the processing of horticultural products, enabling beneficiaries to use grant funding for the purchase of sorting lines.”

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Intensive Orchard Management Technologies

Mark Kuzminskyi, representative of EFT Group, the Conference’s Main Technology Partner, delivered a presentation on harvest management in intensive orchard systems. His presentation provided a detailed overview of modern approaches to organizing harvesting operations in high-density orchards. EFT Group is a Ukrainian group of companies providing comprehensive turnkey technological solutions for commercial fruit and berry production—from plant nutrition and crop protection to modern machinery and professional agronomic support. The group includes EFT Plus, Biokhim Agro, and ProfPolyv.

Effective solutions for professional berry and fruit production, including precision irrigation systems, modern greenhouses, tunnels, and technologies for protected cultivation, were presented by Valerii Liashynskyi, Head of the Greenhouse Division at Eucalipt P.

Innovations in intensive horticulture, particularly Italian technologies and composite reinforcement systems for orchard support structures, were presented by Pavlo Chornous, Project Manager at BetonEnergo.

Modern reinforced concrete solutions for Ukraine’s agribusiness sector were introduced by Oleksandr Horskyi, CEO of Prefab Group, who highlighted engineering approaches to the development of agricultural infrastructure.

Yurii Chemerys, Director of LandEcoTech LLC, addressed the economic efficiency of fruit and berry production, focusing on the return on investment of mechanical harvesting and active protection systems for orchards and berry plantations. His presentation emphasized practical calculations and the profitability of modern technologies.

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Development of Horticulture

Olha Yulina, owner of Yulinykh Vineyard Farm, spoke about efficient viticulture practices in the Vinnytsia region, focusing on vineyard management, local climatic conditions, and the optimal selection of grape varieties that ensure stable yields and high-quality production. Yulinykh Vineyard is a family-owned grapevine nursery with a collection of more than 800 grape hybrids and varieties, including the latest Ukrainian and international breeding selections.

An expert presentation on orchards, berry plantations, nut orchards, and vineyards, as well as forecasts for the current growing season, was delivered by Volodymyr Voievodin, expert at BASF Ukraine.

Volodymyr Silenko, Head of Horticulture and Vegetable Production Technology Support at the biotechnology company BTU, presented information on the application of BTU biological products and their impact on improving fruit quality in horticulture and vegetable production.

Mykhailo Lykhosherst, Director of IKARAI Ukraine LLC (brand IKAR), noted that the company is introducing an innovative product developed in response to current climate challenges.

“IKAR is a European manufacturer of specialty foliar fertilizers, including biostimulants, anti-stress products, and organically certified solutions. Today, we are introducing a new product to the Ukrainian market — IKAR Kalisi, which has already been exported worldwide for the past five years. The launch of this product is closely linked to climate change and the increasingly uneven distribution of rainfall. It helps plants reduce stress caused by excessive heat and solar radiation, decrease transpiration, and utilize available moisture more efficiently. As a result, growers can achieve higher yields and improved crop quality. We have participated in similar industry events in Vinnytsia and Kyiv on numerous occasions. The fruit and vegetable sector is particularly dynamic, with producers constantly seeking solutions to improve productivity, quality, and storage performance. This is why we have built a broad network of partners and loyal customers who value our technological solutions.”

Pome Fruit Orchards 2026: Intensive Technologies, Climate Risks, and Production Economics

The conference program featured four thematic panels covering key areas of modern horticulture, vegetable production, and berry growing.

The first panel focused on pome fruit crops, including intensive apple and pear production technologies, modern approaches to orchard protection, risk management, and improving the economic efficiency of horticultural enterprises.

Anna Sakhonchyk, horticultural consultant and expert in fruit-growing technologies and intensive orchard management (Ukraine), shared recommendations on fruit thinning and crop load management. She emphasized that proper crop regulation is a critical factor directly affecting the final outcome, including fruit quality, size, uniform ripening, and apple coloration.

Dmytro Tymoshenko, Technical Support Manager for Crop Protection Products for Specialty Crops, Vineyards, and Berries at Syngenta, discussed effective strategies for controlling the codling moth, one of the most economically damaging pests in pome fruit orchards.

Artur Sizhuk, Agronomic Consultant at Biochem Agro (part of EFT Group, the Conference’s Chief Technology Partner), spoke about how orchard growers can make informed decisions during spring frosts and the chemical thinning period. He explained how to assess crop risks depending on plant development stages, which technological tools provide the most effective frost protection, and how to avoid common mistakes during thinning operations.

Vladyslav Yaremchuk, Agronomist at Ivanivska Kalyna Farm, delivered a presentation entitled “Intensive Pear Orchards: Mistakes That Cost Yield and Profit. Frost Protection and Workforce Management.” The expert focused on key technological risks that lead to yield losses in intensive orchards and analyzed common management mistakes that negatively affect the economic performance of pear-growing enterprises.

Pavlo Bidula, Director of Fruit Factory LLC, shared practical experience in growing pome fruit orchards and marketing fruit products. Particular attention was given to orchard planning and site selection, choosing planting material and varieties, planting and orchard management practices, as well as product marketing—one of the key factors in the success of a horticultural business.

Solutions for integrated orchard and berry crop protection systems were presented by Andrii Osykovyi, Lead Horticulture Expert at Summit-Agro Ukraine.

According to Svitlana Levchenko, representative and Product Manager at UPL Ukraine, the company presented its portfolio of solutions for orchards and fruit crops, with a particular focus on the development of biological products.

“We offer a wide range of products for orchards and fruit crops. Some of them are specifically registered for fruit crops, which is an important factor for the market. Our portfolio includes herbicides, fungicides, and biological products. One of our current strategic priorities is the development of biological solutions. We have previously participated in a similar conference organized by the media group ‘Technologies and Innovations.’ Today, we would like to highlight the excellent organization of the event and the quality of the venue. It is truly a great location that fosters a productive working atmosphere. In these challenging times, the opportunity to be closer to nature and work in a calmer environment is especially appreciated.”

Yield Stability of Stone Fruit Crops Under Climate Change: Key Highlights

The conference program covered a wide range of technological topics, with particular attention given to stone fruit crops, including modern sweet cherry, plum, and peach orchards, variety selection for the fresh market and processing, technologies for producing high-quality fruit, and orchard protection against weather-related risks.

In her presentation, Zinoviia Elinska, agronomist-consultant, focused on practical approaches to preventing sweet cherry fruit cracking, one of the key challenges in stone fruit production. The speaker highlighted the use of GroGreen products in horticulture as a tool for increasing fruit resistance, improving fruit quality, and ensuring more stable production results under changing climatic conditions.

Mykola Palazhchenko, Director of BeeStar – Technology, addressed the issue of reducing post-harvest losses and the role of drying technologies in preserving up to 30–50% of production. In his presentation, the expert reviewed modern approaches to post-harvest handling, particularly drying technologies as an effective tool for minimizing losses and improving production profitability.

Marta Montoya, Strategic Development Director of the SPAG Group (Valencia, Spain), presented modern approaches and solutions for the effective protection of fruit and berry crops against frost and hail damage.

Roman Torban, Crop Protection Agronomist at Uman Fruit Company, spoke about the varietal policy for stone fruit crops for the 2026 market, including varieties for early- and late-season markets. The expert highlighted new sweet cherry varieties featuring large fruit size and high transportability, as well as varieties that demonstrated strong winter hardiness. Special attention was also given to varieties intended for the fresh market and processing, along with the company’s experience in protecting sweet cherry orchards from spring frosts.

Berry Production and Processing

The conference featured a dedicated panel that brought together practical solutions for berry producers supplying the freezing industry, covering topics from modern cultivation technologies to effective approaches for marketing products in international markets.

Valentyna Ustianchuk, co-owner of Rivnekholod, devoted her presentation to the prospects of berry production with minimal or zero pesticide use. The expert discussed the growing market requirements for the safety and quality of frozen berry raw materials, the specifics of organizing such production systems, and the economic advantages of cultivating products that meet international standards and are in demand in export markets.

Jeremy Darby, an international berry production consultant with more than 40 years of experience, spoke about berries for freezing and processing. The expert presented the crops best suited for freezing — raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, blackcurrant, and redcurrant — and outlined the key agronomic practices required to produce high-quality raw materials. Special attention was given to low-cost solutions, including the selection of disease- and pest-resistant varieties and technologies that ensure low production costs.

Serhii Sukhyna, Head of Artyka-Bio and an expert in fruit and berry processing and freezing, delivered a presentation on sour cherries for processing and all key aspects of working with this crop. The specialist reviewed raw material requirements, including varietal characteristics, explained harvesting technologies and the main processing methods, and analyzed the crop’s prospects. He also addressed whether sour cherry could become a new strategic berry product for Ukraine alongside raspberry.

In an online presentation, Frederike Vogel, owner of Rosetta Agro and Fresh Forward (the Netherlands), introduced approaches to regenerative strawberry production for freezing and processing. The expert presented a concept that combines soil regeneration with improved berry quality and shared practical solutions that enable producers to obtain a stable supply of raw materials for processing.

Volodymyr Dorosh, Service Engineer at Mayekawa Ukraine LLC, represented the international industrial refrigeration brand that works with food industry enterprises across various countries worldwide.

“We are based in Kyiv as the Ukrainian representative office, while the company’s headquarters are located in Tokyo. Mayekawa is a Japanese company with 42 offices in 42 countries around the world. Our core activities include the design and supervision of food industry facilities, such as dairy plants, poultry farms, meat-processing plants, and berry freezing facilities. Our specialization is industrial refrigeration, particularly ammonia-based refrigeration systems. We have clients in western regions of Ukraine, including companies involved in berry freezing. Our goal in participating in this event is to expand partnerships—we want more companies to learn about us, while at the same time gaining a better understanding of market needs and the expectations of our potential customers. The conference organization is of a very high standard, the content is excellent, and overall everything has been outstanding.”

Nut Production

Oleh Hladkyi, representative of SVITANOK STARI MAYAKY Seed Company, delivered a presentation on strategies and technologies for protecting commercial orchards from spring frosts, drawing on the company’s experience with smoke-based frost protection methods. The expert presented the effectiveness of this approach, its application in intensive orchard production systems, and practical strategies for minimizing crop loss risks under increasingly unstable weather conditions.

Technology and Equipment Exhibition

In addition, an exhibition of modern technologies and equipment for berry growing and horticulture was held, bringing together more than 50 companies with exhibition stands.

Among the conference participants presenting their technologies and products at the exhibition were companies that:

Grow and supply planting material: De Kemp Ukraine, «FRUTEK», NOVOSAD, «Vynogradnyk Yulinykh», «Dolyna Agro», «Klioma Service», Fresh Forward Holding BV, Malyn Plant, Shipshyna Ukrainy;

Manufacture and install irrigation systems: PROFPOLYV, Watermil, Eucalyptus P.

Provide equipment for freezing, processing, sorting, packaging and storage of products: «Insolar-Kholod», «SORTER-PAK», Orient Way, «4 Stykhii», «Tolsma Techniek», RivneKholod, SPAG, «Harvest Center», VEGA LAND (LAKY-2017), Agro Mel, Yarofrut, Mas Systems, BeeStar – Technology, INSORTEX;

Offer technological solutions: «EFT PLUS», LENDEKOTECH, Sad OK, BetonEnergo (LLC «ZZV “BEK”»);

Provide plant protection and nutrition products: BTU, «Samit Agro», «AlfaSmartAgro», «Ikarai Ukraine», «Agrisol», BASF, Syngenta, «Agritema», GroGreen, Vitera Ukraine, Makosh, UPL, Biochem Agro, «Bionormik», Timac Agro Ukraine, UKRAVIT SCIENCE PARK, Rosana Biological Solutions, «Rodonit Agro»;

Manufacture textile products: VERETA.

Partner Presentations and Modern Technologies

As part of the event programme, presentations and product tastings from the conference’s food partners took place.

The wine partner of the conference was the KRITSKI WINERY brand. The winery’s founder, Oleksandr Krytskyi, together with his daughter, presented guests with a wide range of wines — from fresh and aromatic white wines to expressive rose and structured red wines, as well as aged varieties. The wines accompanied the event throughout the day and were served during the evening reception, attracting considerable interest among conference participants.

A special highlight was the participation of the founder of the family winery «GIGI winery», Volodymyr Gigineishvili, and winemaker Dmytrii Kaminskyi, who provided their wines for the tasting during the reception.

The presented products also included Mon Crafto wine from the Zhytomyr region, «Nalivky zi Lvova» liqueurs, beer from Bohdanivska Brewery, and an expanded range of healthy products from the family company «Famberry», which specializes in unique products based on cornelian cherry and natural Ukrainian raw materials.

During the conference, modern machinery for horticulture and berry production was also presented in the courtyard of the hotel complex. Participants had the opportunity to see the Weremczuk Karen harvester for collecting raspberries, blueberries and blackberries (presented by Biochem Agro, the official dealer in Ukraine), the Munckhof self-propelled platform, as well as the ID David tree pruning machine.

According to Veronika Masniuk, Chief Marketing Officer of EFT GROUP (LLC «EFT PLUS» and LLC «BIOCHEM AGRO»), this year the company presented a number of new products and expanded cooperation with international manufacturers.

“We have brought a whole exhibition of machinery today, and we are confident that it will be of great interest to the event participants. They have the opportunity to see the equipment firsthand and evaluate its quality. We have presented machinery that is already successfully used on berry farms and is designed for mechanized harvesting. In particular, this includes the Karen harvester manufactured by Weremczuk, designed for harvesting raspberries, blueberries, and cherries from trees up to 3.5 meters high. We are also presenting the Munckhof self-propelled platform for harvesting high-quality apples, produced by the Dutch company of the same name. In addition, we are demonstrating the ID David contour pruner. The manufacturer offers a wide range of equipment for various areas of horticulture — from vineyards to berry plantations. In Ukraine, however, the greatest demand is currently for pruning equipment used in fruit orchards. Along with machinery for the mechanization of horticulture, we are actively cooperating with manufacturers of equipment designed to protect plantations from adverse weather conditions. In particular, we are conducting negotiations and implementing projects for the installation of wind machines to protect orchards from spring frosts, as this issue has become increasingly important for Ukrainian producers in recent years.”

Technologies from LLC “LandEcoTech” were also presented during the conference. The company’s director, Yurii Chemerys, noted:

“We have brought solutions that meet the real needs of producers, as we have thoroughly studied market demand. The company has exclusive supply areas for Kubota machinery, as well as equipment for protecting orchards from spring frosts — TVX wind machines and systems from the French company Agrofrost. We are also presenting berry harvesters from the Serbian manufacturer KOKAN and providing comprehensive service solutions for agricultural producers.”

Charity Auction in Support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Throughout the entire conference day, a traditional charity “silent” auction of goods and services provided by the event partners continued, even during wartime. This year, the auction was held in an updated format: participants approached the lots themselves and offered their bids. This was already the 19th charity auction held as part of the events organized by the media group “Technologies and Innovations” within its conference programme.

At the end of the day, the results were summarized, and several items that had not been sold during the day were offered through an open draw format. This time, more than UAH 52,000 was raised in support of the servicemen of the 20th Operational Assignment Brigade “Liubart” of the 1st Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov”. The unit’s personnel are currently carrying out combat missions and require comprehensive assistance during treatment and recovery.

Among those serving in this unit is Staff Sergeant of the Medical Service Maryna Yeleva, who has been participating in the defence of Ukraine since April 2025. Despite her military service, she continues to manage the farm enterprise “Dary Volyni” as its director.

The charity auction was supported by the conference partner companies. We sincerely thank everyone who provided lots to support this initiative:

“Yarofrut”, Meleto, “Vynohrad Yulinykh”, “Sammit-Agro Ukraine”, “UPL Ukraine”, Mon Crafto, Bionormic, “Famberry”, “GroGreen”, FruTech, BTU, Vereta, Beton Energo.

May 28 — Business Tour to Leading Farms in the Region

On the third day, the practical continuation of the conference took place: a business tour to successful agricultural enterprises in the Vinnytsia region.

The first location visited was LLC “Dudikov” — an intensive horticultural farm in the Vinnytsia region, founded in 2021. The company specializes in growing premium-quality apples and pears, is developing stone fruit production, and is preparing a large-scale project focused on product processing and storage.

Today, the enterprise manages approximately 110 hectares of orchards and operates using modern intensive growing technologies, including drip irrigation, anti-hail systems, and specialized machinery. The farm consistently achieves yields of up to 85 tonnes of apples per hectare and up to 50 tonnes of pears per hectare, while planning further development of its storage and processing capacities.

The participants of the business tour also visited LLC “Fruktona VN” — an agricultural and industrial enterprise in the Vinnytsia region specializing in the cultivation and deep processing of fruits and berries, while also operating as a service hub for farmers. The company unites several farms with approximately 1,000 hectares of plantations, processes and freezes products, produces fruit fillings for the food industry, and provides a full production cycle — from receiving raw materials to storage and the sale of finished products.

Berry&Fruit Academy — How to Establish an Orchard Without Mistakes

On May 26, as part of the conference programme, the Berry&Fruit Academy — an academy of modern fruit and berry farming — was held for the third time.

The main Berry Partner of the conference and the Academy was the Association “Blueberry Producers of Ukraine”. The Industry Partner (freezing sector) of the Academy was LLC “YAROF RUIT”. The Main Organizational Partner of the Academy was LLC “FruitTech”.

The Academy was primarily designed for those who are planning to establish a new orchard or berry plantation and want to do it thoughtfully — avoiding costly mistakes and taking into account modern market requirements.

This year, the Academy was special because it was held not in a conference hall, but at the FruitTech company’s facilities, in a modern venue specially built for seminars and other professional events.

“Our Academy has become not just an educational event, but a meeting place for people who think strategically, professionally, and long-term about the development of modern berry growing and horticulture. We deliberately choose different lecture topics because modern agribusiness requires flexibility. It is important to see related opportunities, look at the industry more broadly, and identify new market niches in time,” emphasized Kateryna Konieva, Editor-in-Chief of the “Technologies and Innovations” project.

LLC “YAROF RUIT” — the Industry Partner (Freezing Sector) of the Academy — is one of the leaders in the production and supply of high-quality frozen berries, fruits, and vegetables for the food industry and the HoReCa sector. The company’s director, Vitalii Sydorenko, noted:

“This is truly an important event for our country and the agricultural sector. Ukrainian farming proves its resilience and strength every year, even in challenging conditions. A farmer’s work is one of the most difficult, as the outcome depends not only on the producer’s efforts but also on weather risks. That is why such educational events are important: they help not only respond to challenges but also protect crops in advance. Today, participants can expect a lot of practical information and real cases of effective and profitable business.”

The first session, dedicated to the cultivation of berries suitable for freezing and processing, featured expert Jeremy Darby — an international berry production consultant from the United Kingdom and one of Europe’s leading specialists in berry cultivation technologies. He has more than 40 years of experience working with berry farms and projects focused on the fresh market, processing, and freezing.

During his presentation, the speaker provided a detailed overview of selecting berry crops best suited for freezing, including raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, as well as black and red currants. Special attention was given to promising crops for processing and freezing — honeysuckle, aronia, and sea buckthorn — which are gradually gaining popularity in the market.

The second session of the Academy was dedicated to stone fruit crops (sweet cherries and sour cherries), their prospects, and cultivation specifics in Ukraine, taking into account regional characteristics and target production areas: fresh market, processing, and freezing.

The expert of this session was Oleksandr Yareshchenko, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Senior Researcher and Leading Research Scientist at the Institute of Horticulture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine. The co-speaker was Andrii Slobodianiuk, Research Scientist at the Institute of Horticulture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences. The speakers shared practical experience in working with stone fruit crops and provided up-to-date recommendations for producers.

The third session of the Academy focused on pome fruit crops and modern approaches to managing intensive apple orchards aimed at both the fresh market and processing. Particular attention was paid to crop load management and regulation of the number of fruits per tree.

The topic was presented by Anna Sakhonchyk, a horticulture consultant and expert in fruit crop cultivation technologies and intensive orchard management (Ukraine), who shared practical approaches to improving apple quality in modern orchard systems.

“For several years in a row, I have been attending events organized by the media group ‘Technologies and Innovations’. They always have a rich and interesting programme where you can learn a lot of useful information. This time, I was particularly interested in the lecture by international berry consultant Jeremy Darby, as we are planning to grow strawberries in protected cultivation and establish a new open-field plantation,” said Anna Kazik, agronomist at the farm enterprise “Tandem Agro”.

The final stage of the programme was a tour of the nursery of LLC “FruitTech” — a Ukrainian company specializing in modern fruit and berry production. During the visit, guests also explored the company’s new laboratory, where the initial planting of plants obtained through the in vitro method is carried out.

In Vinnytsia, “FruitTech” also operates its own in vitro laboratory, where most crops are propagated under sterile conditions on nutrient media. Many thanks to LLC “FruitTech” for the warm welcome and exclusive treats.

2026 Event Calendar of the Media Group “Technologies and Innovations”

17–18 September AgroBerry&Veg 2026: BERRY AND VEGETABLE BUSINESS. Technologies, Innovations, Success

Rivne

10–11 December SmartBerry 2026: TECHNOLOGIES. INNOVATIONS. SUCCESS. The main berry event of the year

The venue Rivne.