Eleven years ago Denka Georgieva and Petar Georgiev established their small family company in the village of Isperihovo situated at the foot of the Eastern Rhodopes. Until then they had grown fruit trees in the fruit gardens which became possession of their family after the democratic changes in Bulgaria. At one point their produce became so big in quantity that they decided to process it and then sell it on the market. I participated accidentally at the JOBS project financed by the Bulgarian Ministry of Labor and Social Policy under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Petar Georgiev told Radio Bulgaria and added:

We won the project and made the fruit drying facility. However, it turned out that we could not have a successful business with fruit-drying only, because it is a seasonal job. That is why our next idea was to shift to the manufacture of fruit jams and marmalades. We sorted out our documentation and started to make fruit juice. Thus, we gradually upgraded our business, because we mainly work with own financing. This business requires stubbornness, perseverance and a lot of thought. Everything happens very slowly and requires a lot of work and energy.

Since their land is included in the NATURA 2000 protected areas network, Georgiev family cultivates mainly organic strawberries, cherries, apples, pears, plums and various vegetables. They do not contain any pesticides or chemicals, but they are loaded with the positive thoughts and the dedication of the producers.

The profit of a company or a shop depends on the variety of its produce, Petar Georgiev points out. We are trying to revive old authentic recipes of traditional Bulgarian products such as Lyutenitsa (tomato and pepper chutney), homemade ketchup, pumpkintreacle, etc. Our grandmothers used to make these products without any additives or preservatives. Recently we started to make sugar-free jams and add date molasses instead. We believe that food must be real and of high quality, and people have started to realize this. I and my wife always feel the pleasure of introducing a new product. We started to sell syrup made of Tutsan and Melissa. We are also planning to sell natural juices when we collect the new crop. Pleasure is bigger than the profit itself, which comes later.

Denka and Petar Georgiev produce a wide range of products – dried fruits and vegetables, jams, syrups, marmalades, mixed vegetables for soups made especially for children. All these products are not only a response to the growing consumer demand, but also help people make their home meals easier and tastier. Those who like non-traditional jams and syrups can buy from Denka and Petar chili jam. It goes well with homemade white brine sheep cheese or yellow cheese (kashkaval)

In the beginning our accountant gave us a chili jam recipe using ground chills. However, we decided not to grind the chills, so that people can see what they eat. I must say that this product has been gaining huge popularity and there is big market demand for it. Our sultana and rum jam is also sold very successfully. Initially we added rum to our cherry jam to reach an original flavor. Of course, the alcohol content in these products is very low, just enough to give them a different flavor. We have regular customers. We make home deliveries and deliver our products to some shops in Pazardzhik and Plovdiv. Our customers’ network has gradually enlarged.

Each Wednesday Denka and Petar sell their produce at the farmers’ bazaar in Sofia in front of the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The bazaar is organized with the support of the Bulgarian-Swiss Cooperation Programme.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov