Responsible wild forest fruit collection and added value Note: This project has been cancelled, because of the problems being faced in the country, as well as within the partnership.The main purpose of the project is setting up facilities for the processing of organic wild forest fruits. The main products will be jams and juices, but a considerable part of the products will also be sold as frozen while the demand for the other products gradually grows. The majority of the products will be exported, mainly to Western Europe.The consortium consists of Witsenburg Natural Products B.V., specialised in health and sustainable products, and Ask Foods, a food processing company. Witsenburg has developed and marketed several health products in the past (e.g. thee strengthening the immune system, Omega & More 100% organic coconut oil) and is also involved in the production of some products through the holding company. Ask Foods is a young company producing conventional jams, juices, roasted peppers and other processed food products.The partners will set up a joint venture for the processing of 600 tons organic wild fruits into (mainly) jams, juices and frozen, including appropriate storage for a longer shelf life of their inputs. The joint venture will set up collection centres and organise the pickers (bottom of the pyramid). The collectors will receive support for organic certification and will work according to the Fair Wild standard. The 1,000 collectors will receive long term contracts and an organic premium (15% above market prices).Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The collection scheme will be Organic certified and will be subject to a Fair Wild pre-audit (certification is only possible after 2 years of production). The production facilities will be ISO 9001 and HACCP certified. The joint venture will provide the same good working conditions as the local partner and will additionally provide a warm meal, transportation, bonus for religious holidays and pay at 15% above average salaries in similar positions. No child labour will be tolerated and this will be included in the training and the contracts with the collectors.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsThe joint venture will provide the same good working conditions as the local partner and will additionally provide a warm meal, transportation, bonus for religious holidays and pay at 15% above average salaries in similar positions. Employees will also receive appropriate training for carrying out their tasks.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeThe products, organic juices, jams and processed fruits are new for Kosovo. Existent products in Kosovo are only conventional. The production method is new because the collection will be organised and organic certified. Furthermore, the shock freezing is new for Kosovo and gives the products a longer shelf life and the new processing facilities for jams and juices will be more modern and automated than the current facilities of the local partner. Last but not least, the logistics and organisation is innovative due to the Organic certification, the Fair Wild pre-audit and the collection centres.•	Chain effectsThe joint venture will have a great impact of the bottom of the pyramid, since the 1,000 collectors trained and contracted belong to the poorest people in the society. The joint venture will work according to the Fair Wild principles (pre-audit will be done) which covers the social aspects of wild harvesting through pickers. The buyers will receive a 15% premium above market prices and are expected to earn an annual income of 446 euro by delivering 600 kg of wild fruits to the joint venture.•	Impact on the sectorThe project introduces new standards in the sector (Organic, Fair Wild).•	EnvironmentThe organic certification and the Fair Wild pre-audit will ensure a better protection of the environment while collecting fruits (e.g. how to collect fruits without damaging the plants, percentage of collection etc).•	Position of womenThe joint venture will employ 30 women which is normal for the sector. Three of them will be placed in medium to high positions. To set up facilities for the processing of 600 tons organic wild fruits into (mainly) jams, juices and frozen, including organisation of the collectors and the set up of collection centres and the appropriate storage for a longer shelf life of their input