Within the Conference TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATIONS: FROM THE LAND - TO THE FINISHED PRODUCT, the Best Ukrainian Directly Squeezed Juices Was Announced During Public Tasting
26.03.2019, 17:53
On March 21-22, the IV International Conference for Horticulture and Processing industries "Technologies and Innovations: From Land to the Finished Product" was successfully held in Cherkasy. One of the main themes was the processing of fruit and berry products into value-added products. As the experience of successful domestic processing enterprises that participated in the conference shows, the production of juices, cider, fruit and berry wines including other processed products is not only an effective solving of the problem during overproduction of fresh fruits but also an opportunity to get additional proceeds. The public tasting of directly squeezed juices which was held during all conference day became like a bright illustration of this in practice, as well as an opportunity to claim itself as producers. Thus, ten juices producers presented 20 various samples of directly squeezed juices in three nominations. Three leaders in each of the nominations were chosen.
For the first time in the framework of the conference, a public tasting has been held in order to pay attention to the quality of natural products based on fruits and berries made by domestic producers, to popularize among consumers the consumption of directly squeezed juices, to focus on the broad opportunities for business in this direction. This public tasting included a competition of directly squeezed juices, which consisted of Ukrainian farms, and processing enterprises. The organizers of this competition were the project "Technologies and Innovations" jointly with the PU "Ukrsadvinprom."
The public tasting of directly squeezed juices is our very important start, was commented by Kateryna KONEVA, co-founder of the information and publishing project "Technologies and Innovations." She told the following: "You all know that on the shop shelves are represented mainly so-called nectars of natural direct squeezed juices. People do not consume much, because they know a little bit about their benefits. Therefore, we decided to gather juice producers and make the most of our publications, Internet resources, opportunities for the conference information partners to inform the consumer that this product is better and healthier. In addition, for fruit growers, it is also financially successful processing."
All conference participants were able to participate in the tasting to choose the best juices. Indeed, it was important to get a national product evaluation from the consumer`s point of view. The contest included in three categories, in particular, apple juice, two-component juice, and three- or more component juice. It should be noted, that juice tasting was carried out blindly, and only at the end, the organizers opened all cards.
10 Ukrainian producers of directly squeezed juices presented their products at the competition including their 20 declared samples. Now, we are ready to announce the winners! TOV Najsik won in the nomination apple juice, the second place took TOV Dnipro, and the third - TM Prymosik.
Oleksandr SAMOYLENKO, director of Department of Horticulture of the company MAIS, has noted the following: "A lot of thanks to the organizers for providing such competition. It has shown only directly squeezed juices! During which every participant of the conference had the opportunity to try juices blindly without noted labels, and choose the finer one among many others. The fact that you have chosen our products among the best ones is very important for us that prompt us to look for new variants, to increase the range of new tastes, first of all, to bring satisfaction from their consumption. We use only own grown harvest for making juices. Moreover, we set up a special control for production, as the saying is from the land to the finished product. We are well aware of our varieties, and this gives us the opportunity to be more demanding and at the same time to use more creative approaches for the selection of raw materials, and as a result, we have such wonderful products!"
An apple- pear juice by TOV SADY KARLIVSHCHYNY won the gold in the category two-component juice, the silver moved to the apple-pumpkin juice by TOV Najsik, and bronze took apple - pear juice by TM "Eco Kray."
A representative of the company Fruits of Poltava, and producer of juices by TM Eco Kray, Marina YAKIMENKO has also noted that: "This conference and competition have provided us with the experience and knowledge to achieve more in own business. The high result in the competition for our company is not only an important achievement of our team but also an opportunity to show own vision on how the directly squeezed juice should be."
Thus, multifruit juice by TM Pryamo Sik has got gold in the nomination three- or more component juice from company Vitmark, by doing so, silver and bronze got to TOV Najsik for apple-carrot-pumpkin-beetroot juice and apple-carrot-pumpkin.
Last of all, a representative of company Dnipro, producer of juices by TM "Krasa Azova" has summarized that: "Every juice producer is trying to make its product as high quality as possible so that the final consumer will estimate its taste. The main problem at this moment is sales. It has been repeatedly mentioned at the conference that our people do not all distinguish directly squeezed juices and not direct squeezed. Therefore, producers should take part in such events, for communicating with each other, and for seeking partners."
Professor Oleksandr LYTOVCHENKO, head of the processing and storage department at the Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences Institute of Horticulture shared their impressions and tips. He said the following: "This event has shown the main that the process has gone. And, producers start to work in the direction of in-depth processing. Speaking about the technologies of directly squeezed juices, it should be noted the important points. For example, to take a fallen apple and processed it, that is wrong. It should be taken and creative approach, in particular, select varieties, study them, determine the indicators: the content of dry substances, aroma, etc. Thus, it would be better to make contact with the specialists of horticultural institutes, who can advise you."
According to Oleksandr KUPTSOVA, representative of the EFT Group - Kreuzmayr, the main Technology Partner of the public tasting, has told that the level of quality of directly squeezed juices has risen in taste properties and other parameters in recent years. He said: "I hope the next year we will again organize a similar competition with a greater number of participants. I strongly believe that is just the beginning. Thanks to everyone who participated in the public tasting and I wish success to all the producers, not only the masters that are present! "