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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Positive effect of raspberry on health to be promoted

Belgrade, 11 April 2007

USAID/SEDP Export Advisor Remer Lane said today that Serbian raspberries should be made available to consumers and promote its effect on health as this fruit has anti-cancer effects.

At a conference themed “Raspberry and Health” organised by the Serbian Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA), together with the USAID Serbia Enterprise Development Project (USAID-SEDP), Lane said that Serbia is fourth largest raspberry producer in the world whereas yearly consumption is around 900 grams per capita.

He said that it is necessary to prolong the period of raspberry growing from six weeks to three months in order to increase competitiveness on the global market, introduce new picking technologies, regular quality control, improve the packaging, transport and promotion worldwide.

President of the International Raspberry Association (IRA) Rade Ljubojevic said that Serbia could increase raspberry production and export if it updated production methods and introduced new certificates.

He said that in 95% of the cases, Serbia exports frozen raspberries and in remaining cases they are exported fresh. In order to change that ratio, it is necessary to change the product range, modernise the packaging and transport, as well as the work of the customs.

Representative of the Serbian Institute for Oncology and Radiology Zorica Juranic said that a research conducted by this institute showed that the water extract of raspberry pulp and seed can slow down the multiplication of large intestine's malign cells, while an US research showed that an ingredient of black raspberries has the potential for being studied as an agent for the treatment of leukemia.

This conference is the continuation of the World's conference of raspberry producers, held in the middle of last year on the mountain of Zlatibor, and the opinions and ideas of local scientists will be presented at the Berry Health Roundtable world conference, which will be held in late April this year in California.