In western Ukraine, the cooperative "Faina Polyana", based in Horodyshche, Ternopil region, demonstrates that the cooperative model can remain profitable and resilient even during wartime.
Founded in 2015, the group unites 153 producers and operates Ukraine's first cooperative freezing facility for berries, launched in 2018. The plant has a daily freezing capacity of 15 tons and cold storage for 300 tons. Annual production now exceeds 800 tons, with raw material supplied from more than 100 hectares of plantations and neighboring regions.
The cooperative runs four collection and cooling points and manages its own logistics. Products are exported to Poland, Czechia, and Estonia, while negotiations are underway with partners in Italy, the UK, and Canada.
"Faina Polyana" is ISO 22000:2018 certified and is preparing for FSSC 22000. A transparent payment system ensures that cooperative members receive a 50% premium from added value, which helps secure stable profits and long-term international contracts.
Source: agronews.ua