Our international agriculture division, Elite Agro (EAG), is expanding our range of locally-grown, high-demand crops by growing raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries for the first time at Al Foah farm.

Under Berry World’s license, we are now producing a range of premium berry varieties at our local farm in Al Ain, including “Diamond Jubilee” raspberries and “Midnight” blackberries. We are also introducing three premium strawberry varieties called “Florida Beauty”, “San Andrea”, and “Sensation”.

By introducing raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries to the UAE for the first time, we aim to exponentially reduce farm-to-shelf delivery times, making high quality produce that stays fresh for longer more accessible to our customers.

“As part of our commitment to deliver the freshest farm produce to our customers, we’re expanding our range of high-quality crops to include three new types of berries. We’re proud to be the UAE’s only producer of locally-grown blueberries, and we’re confident that this expansion will open even more opportunities to achieve greater success in sustainable farming, in line with the UAE’s food security strategy,” said Ian Summerfield, Elite Agro CEO.

The berry saplings were first planted in November 2021 at our Al Foah farm. Equipped with state-of-the-art automated and sustainable technologies and solutions, our farm’s raspberry production area is now 1.8 hectares with an average of 18,500 stems per hectare and is expected to yield 18 tons of raspberries per hectare. Meanwhile, the blackberry production area is 1.2 hectares with an average of 30,000 stems per hectare and is expected to yield 20 tons per hectare.

In a country dominated by deserts, our berries are grown in temperature-controlled greenhouses with advanced micro-irrigation through a drip system that combines specific levels of water with a unique combination of nutrients. Grown in a soilless medium that combines coco peat, perlite and other substances, each plant is nurtured by regular analysis and is naturally pollinated by our family of lovable and very helpful bumblebees to ensure optimum yields.

Additionally, our farm employs a two-hand touch approach – which means no one touches the berries after the picker and before the consumer – with only an efficient packing and delivery process in between. Using this method, we ensure minimal damage and optimal hygiene in our berries.

EAG is the UAE’s only producer of locally-grown blueberries. Through the expertise we have gained from operating over 30+ local and international farms, we have a proven successful track record of growing and supplying premium berries to the local market, amongst other fresh produce such as our local dairy brand, Marmum. The addition of exclusive raspberry, blackberry, and strawberry varieties strengthens our position as a key player in the food and agriculture industry to meet increasing local demand for ‘superfoods’.