ABUNDANT FRUIT HARVEST RAISES HOPES FOR A STRONG RAKIJA SEASON

After one of the most challenging seasons in the past decade, fruit brandy producers in Republika Srpska are entering this year's processing season with renewed optimism. A strong harvest of plums, apples and pears is expected to provide high-quality raw materials, stable prices and increased production of rakija, the region's traditional fruit brandy.

PHOTO: Ustupljena fotografija

Plums are beginning to ripen across orchards in Republika Srpska, while distilleries have already started preparing for this year's production. Although purchase prices have not yet been finalized, producers expect them to remain at last year's level or even decline slightly due to higher fruit yields.

Bojan Džuveleković, co-owner and director of the Epoha Distillery in Lopare, said weather conditions had been highly favorable for plum production.

"We expect an excellent harvest and outstanding fruit quality. Weather conditions have been ideal, and everything indicates that this year's fruit will be perfect for processing," he said.

Around 90 percent of the fruit used by the distillery comes from local growers in the Majevica region, while the company's own orchard is still developing.

According to Džuveleković, last year was the worst season in a decade due to poor yields, low-quality fruit and exceptionally high prices.

"This year the situation is completely different. High-quality fruit is the foundation of premium rakija. We do not add artificial flavors, sugar or taste enhancers. We use only table-quality fruit, carefully control fermentation and rely on traditional wood-fired copper stills for distillation," he added.

The distillery exports its products to Serbia, Austria and Switzerland, with prices starting at around 38 KM per bottle.

Good plum yields have also encouraged producers in Ugljevik. Nenad Todorović, owner of the Kristal Distillery, said production has already begun with early plum varieties.

He expects to produce between 3,000 and 5,000 liters of rakija this year, emphasizing that maintaining quality is more important than increasing volume. The distillery plans to keep its current price of 43 KM for a 0.7-liter bottle and is preparing its first exports to Switzerland.

APPLE BRANDY GAINS MOMENTUM

While most distilleries focus on plum brandy, the Potkozarje Distillery near Prijedor specializes exclusively in apple-based spirits inspired by the French Calvados tradition.

Owner Snježana Jokić said this year's apple harvest is significantly better than last year's and that the company relies entirely on fruit from its own orchards.

The production process includes pressing apples, making cider, double distillation and aging the spirit in oak barrels for 28 months. Prices will remain unchanged, with wholesale prices starting at 36 KM for a 0.7-liter bottle.

Potkozarje currently sells its products throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina while expanding exports to Croatia, Serbia and Austria.

The President of the Republika Srpska Fruit Growers Association, Dragoja Dojčinović, said this year's harvest should provide enough fruit both for fresh consumption and industrial processing, adding that plum and apple prices are expected to remain stable or decrease slightly due to abundant yields.

In addition to apple brandy, Potkozarje has introduced a new herbal liqueur called Grk, produced from apple spirit and wormwood in cooperation with local herbalists. The company hopes the product will become a domestic alternative to well-known international herbal liqueur brands.