Serbian grower expands garden rose acreage to 30ha

Starting with producing rose seedlings for the domestic market only, Serbian ornamental and fruit plant grower Aleksandar International today is exporting over 70 percent of its products. Over the last 20 years, they have grown in size, knowledge and use of automation and are still expanding their production acreage of roses. They are soon adding 5ha and will be producing roses on 30ha next year. "This increase in acreage will increase our production by 200,000 seedlings and will bring our annual production to one million", explains Aleksandar Jovanovic, owner of the company.

Reason expansion
According to Jovanovic, the demand for rose seedlings is continuously increasing. "Since we established the farm 20 years ago, we increased in size every year. Roses are being used for more purposes nowadays. Next to its decorative purpose, it is also used for medicinal, nutritional properties and is being used for tea, jam, sweets or flavoring food." This year Aleksandar International will produce around 800,000 rose seedlings, and their plan is to reach a production of one million seedlings of roses by next year.

Automation
Aleksandar International is located in Trstenik, which is a region that is known for its rose production. "Rose production in our region is transmitted form generation to generation." For this reason it is important to diversify the company from the competition. "In this area, you can only become successful when you improve your knowledge and production." For this reason, they decided to invest in several irrigation techniques. "All areas where plants grow we irrigate, and as the first in Serbia in 2010 we started to use a FOG system."

Export markets
From supplying the local market only to exporting the majority of their roses. Over the last 20 years, Aleksandar International expanded its markets and is now exporting about 70 percent of its rose seedlings to countries like Italy, Poland, Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and more. "Now, only 30% of the roses are being sold on the domestic market."

Rose varieties
Jovanovic produces many varieties of columnar roses, English roses, bushy roses, ground cover roses, mini roses, shrub roses, climbing roses and tea hybrids. "In total, we have 70 varieties", says Jovanovic. The material they produce are packed according to the wishes of the shops in the countries where we export to. "And before packing the rose, we put every rose in paraffin wax and we wrap the roots in sawdust under foil. In this way, the roses can stay on the shelf for up to five months."

Aleksandar International
Today Aleksandar International is producing around 100 hectares of ornamental plants and fruit plants. They produce about 400,000 evergreen and ornamental shrubs (Thuja Smaragd, Elwoody, Golden and so on). Besides the production of roses, fruit trees and ornamental plants, nursery Aleksandar International is engaged in designing and planting areas, and their commitment to the profession and the creativity of our experts demonstrated at numerous locations in the country, creating a more beautiful and more comfortable environment for many companies and our business partners.

For more information:
Aleksandar International
Aleksadnar Jovanovic
T: +381628644725
Email: info@aleksandarinternational.com
www.aleksandarinternational.com