In response to strawberry shortages caused by the war and the loss of southern territories of Ukraine, Kyiv-based entrepreneur Serhiy Velykdanov launched Finprom Agro in 2023, building the company's first 2 hectares of greenhouses to grow sweet strawberries near the capital.
The business now operates 6 hectares of greenhouses and supplies fresh berries within two hours to premium supermarkets and wholesale markets. "We focus on sweetness. Thanks to short logistics, we deliver fresher, tastier berries than those transported from western Ukraine," says Velykdanov.
The first investment in used Italian greenhouses cost UAH 10 million (about €238,000). However, the 2024 expansion used simpler, mobile tunnel structures that were built in-house, which cut costs to UAH 8 million (about €190,000).
Even though spring frosts cut strawberry yields by 15–20%, Finprom Agro still picks up to 2.2 tonnes of strawberries every day. This season, they started selling premium berries in stores, charging UAH 220–250/kg (€5.25–6.00/kg), which is more than the UAH 100–150/kg (€2.40–3.60/kg) they charged last year.
Looking ahead, the company plans to extend the harvest season by introducing new varieties and expanding greenhouses by another 4–5 hectares, requiring up to €238,000 in new investment.
Source: epravda.com.ua