According to preliminary data, this year’s non-standard apple harvest will be approximately 50,000 tons. To ensure that the produced goods are not left uncollected, farmers do not face difficulties in selling their harvest, and they receive income, a state program to support the sale of non-standard apples will be implemented this year as in previous years.

As part of the state program, the Rural Development Agency will issue a subsidy of GEL 0.10 per kilogram of non-standard apples. The state subsidy will be provided to fruit processing companies that purchase non-standard apples from farmers for at least GEL 0.25 per kilogram by December 15, 2024.

To ensure the smooth implementation of the program, a special working group will be created to coordinate the apple delivery process on-site. Fruit processing enterprises participating in the project are required to register electronically with the coordination headquarters.

It is noteworthy that in 2023, under the program supporting the sale of non-standard apples, 21,768 tons of apples were processed, with a total value of 6.8 million GEL, and the state provided 2.2 million GEL in subsidies.