In the picturesque foothills of the Alatau mountains, apple growers are completing the harvest of late varieties, which will last until the end of October. Yet, the season does not end there; preparations for winter and plans for next year's crop are already underway.
The AgroKaravan Harvest 2025 journey commenced at SSA Fruits, a modern orchard located in the village of Koram, Enbekshikazakh District, Almaty Region. The company manages 80 hectares of intensive orchards: 50 hectares of apples, 19 hectares of plums, and 11 hectares of cherries. Among the plums are nine varieties, five of which are unique to Kazakhstan, including the Japanese yellow variety Tsisisan.
"This variety did not bear fruit for several years, but with the help of Eridon Kazakhstan specialists, we managed to achieve a good harvest this season," said Anna Kronkina, director of SSA Fruits.
This year, the company focused more on fruit quality than volume. Average apple yields reached approximately 20 tons per hectare, but the goal was to produce high-quality apples with bright color, smooth skin, and uniform shape.
"We worked very intensively according to the program we set in spring with Eridon Kazakhstan," Kronkina added. "Our task was to get premium-quality apples, and we achieved it."
According to Viktor Sverida, deputy director for technology at Eridon Kazakhstan, some trees still show signs of alternate bearing, and cherry production remains a challenge. However, with proper agronomy, the company expects SSA Fruits to become "one of the model orchards in Kazakhstan within a few years."
Good weather also helped growers obtain high-quality fruit this season. Still, harvesting remains a bottleneck: apples for the fresh market must be picked by hand to maintain their marketable appearance, and up to 100 workers may be involved in the process.
SSA Fruits sells most of its harvest to wholesalers supplying Almaty's markets. Wholesale apple prices increased by 5–10% compared to last year but remain below the 250 tenge/kg (approx. €0.45) that growers consider economically viable.
"Higher prices could be achieved through exports, but logistics from Kazakhstan to markets such as the UAE remain too expensive," Kronkina explained. "That's why we focus on the domestic market, improving both quality and productivity. For us, it is very important to balance costs and revenues, and cooperation with Eridon Kazakhstan helps us make the business more predictable and efficient."
Source: eldala.kz