Intensive apple fruit production in the Caucasian Mountain region

Altered conditions in fruit markets of the eastern borders (Russian embargo on European goods) drastically promoted the onset of fruit growing in the broader region of the Silk Road. A five-year overlook on the development of fruit growing in the Caucasian Mountain region will be presented - focusing on Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia. Large enterprises cultivating between 100 and 400 ha fruit orchards have recently been established in these countries. High-capacity cold storage rooms with modern sorting lines were also built and numerous new structures are in progress. The knowledge behind the setting of new densely planted orchards and their maintenance is primarily imported from European countries. Fruit plants are imported from Italy, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Poland and Serbia and cultivar selection is comparable to these countries. The latest know-how on site selection, soil preparation, orchard wire infrastructure, hail-nets, irrigation systems and fertilization is implemented in these new orchards. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis) of this explosive development of fruit production in Caucasian Mountain region will be discussed along with future technological challenges.