LocationsTraining from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and the Government of Sweden helped a small craft producer from the Ivano-Frankivsk region learn from others’ experience, rather than their own mistakes.
Rooting Out Mistakes: Expert advice saves raspberry grower time and money
February 18, 2026
Photo: Malynova Fazenda
The story of “Malynova Fazenda” – a family enterprise run by Ruslan and Iryna Kulka in the village of Tovmachyk, Ivano-Frankivsk region – began in the difficult year for Ukraine of 2022. Despite having careers in other sectors – Iryna in IT and Ruslan in the solar energy sector – the couple decided to launch their own raspberry-growing business, planting 1,000 “Joan J” raspberry saplings on a small plot near their home.
Photo: Malynova Fazenda
But things started to go wrong from the start, Ruslan explains. During their first year of selling raspberries at local markets, the couple faced a major setback: prices hit a seven-year low. The venture became so unprofitable that they couldn't even reach their break-even point.
"We had no experience, and information in this field is hard to come by,” Ruslan admits. “While there seems to be plenty on the internet, truly useful insights have to be sought out manually, often by learning through trial and error.”
Searching for expertise
This financial pressure forced the family to seek solutions through processing. They started simply by trying to come up with a “grandmother’s jam” recipe.
"During the first year, we didn't even sell it,” Ruslan recalls with a smile. “We experimented, changing recipes and technologies. Our ‘clients’ were relatives and friends who got it for free. They ‘paid’ for the jam with feedback on how it tasted, which we took into account."
Photo: Malynova Fazenda
“Every season we needed new knowledge that we didn’t have, and we had to find it somewhere,” Iryna adds.
“Despite the difficulties, we love this business. We’re moving toward scaling up. For us, the most important thing is to gather as much information as possible from people who have been in this business for years and have experience.”
Training saves time
A big breakthrough in their understanding of business processes came during training provided by the NGO "SV-Platform," facilitated by UNDP in Ukraine with financial support from the Government of Sweden. The programme for berry entrepreneurs and farmers allowed them not only to validate their existing knowledge but also to discover much that was new.
For a small family business, the most valuable aspect for them was access to practical knowledge not found in the public domain. Specifically, consultations with one of Ukraine’s business leaders in frozen berry and fruit production helped them break down the freezing technology step-by-step. The couple also received vital advice on raspberry nutrition, such as how to conduct soil analyses at various points on their plot to ensure the correct application of fertilizers.
“This training saved us several seasons of work,” Ruslan says.
“We no longer had to learn from our own mistakes as we did before. We now have access to expert experience, combining scientific approaches with real-world business insights. If we had had to consult with each of these experts individually, it would have cost us an immense amount of effort, time, and money. We’re grateful to UNDP in Ukraine and the Government of Sweden for the unique opportunity to gain truly priceless knowledge."
Technological overhaul
Currently, the planting area of the “Malynova Fazenda” business has grown tenfold – from an initial 0.1 hectares to a full hectare. Moreover, plans are already in place to expand to 5 hectares and beyond.
Photo: Malynova Fazenda
Armed with practical advice, even amidst air raids and power outages, the family is continuing to build up their business. Plans for the current year include a complete technological overhaul of the field with infrastructure to simplify harvesting and protect the berries from the sun, birds, and hail damage.
"We’re also building a large walk-in freezer,” Ruslan explains. “This will allow us to separate our processes: harvesting the berries at peak ripeness, freezing them, and then handling the processing – jam, wine, or freeze-drying – whenever we have free time.”
Iryna emphasizes that despite all the challenges they face, they remain true to their principles: "We work exclusively using natural methods,” she says. “No chemical additives – just natural berries. Our ambitious goal is to develop agritourism, so people can come and see this process with their own eyes.”
During the last harvest of the previous season, they produced 4,500 jars of raspberry jam, some of which were donated to charity. The couple has also seen success in selling their frozen berries.
In 2025, they harvested three tons of raspberries from a half-hectare plot. According to experts, the potential yield for this area could reach approximately 7.5 tons, leaving significant room for productivity growth. Now, with their current hectare of plantings, the couple plan to reap a 15-ton harvest, and have the processing capacity in place that can handle such a volume. After that, the next step is to establish stable sales channels.
Photo: Malynova Fazenda
Today, small family businesses in Ukraine like that of the Kulka’s are gradually becoming points of economic growth for their communities. Their story is a testament to how knowledge, partnership, and perseverance are helping to build the future – even in the most difficult times.
This story was prepared within as part of the "Enhanced Partnership for Sustainable Recovery" (EPSR) project, funded by the Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), and implemented by UNDP in Ukraine.
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