“It’s used exclusively for decorative purposes, it’s edible, of course, but that’s how it’s used in those elite restaurants. Unfortunately, I don’t have a market for it at that price, which I’m very sorry for, otherwise I wouldn’t grow raspberries or blueberries,” adds Vesna Bošnjak.
Vesna’s greenhouse in Usora also grows the most expensive pepper in the world. He also grows different types of tomatoes that are not common in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He produces for his family and sells them on his doorstep in a neighborhood from which many have moved out.
Vesna from Usora says that she is more of a collector than a traditional farmer.
“Right now I’m taking off the caps from the most expensive pepper in the world – Aj čarapita – wild Peruvian pepper with small yellow fruits. This one has already spoiled,” says Vesna Bošnjak, a farmer from Usora, reports BHRT.
The mentioned South American variety reaches dizzying amounts.
“On the American market, a kilogram of dried Ai carpita costs about 20,000 dollars. It is used exclusively for decorative purposes, it is edible, of course, but that is how it is used in those elite restaurants. Unfortunately, I do not have a market for it at that price, for which I am very sorry, otherwise I would not grow raspberries or blueberries”, adds Vesna Bošnjak.
Vesna’s greenhouses also have dozens of varieties of tomatoes, the cultivation of which is not widespread in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Moroccan mint, bear’s paw, giant ox heart, babushka’s secret, are just some of the varieties that Vesna Bošnjak grows on her farm. Everything he produces, he processes.
What grows outdoors and in her greenhouses is not easy for Vesna to say.
“I don’t know, I wouldn’t be able to list everything, 70-80 varieties of peppers, probably more than 230 tomatoes, I don’t count them anymore, exotic varieties, I like to have everything, from herbs to vegetables to fruits,” says Vesna Bošnjak.
Her farm is located in the Usor settlement of Omanjska, from which many young people have gone to work abroad, says Vesna and emphasizes that she is not thinking about expanding production.
“Before, all this was under raspberry, four dulums were under raspberries, and since there is no labor force, then as much as I can. Two greenhouses, a dulum of raspberries, a hundred blueberry bushes, plus those little things on the bushes and that’s it,” says this farmer.
Products for the family, and part of the sales on doorsteps, agricultural fairs and through social networks.
“There is no support for farmers, neither small nor large, very little. First, we are not compensated, in 2024/2025 two of my greenhouses were damaged. The municipality did not even declare a natural disaster, let alone someone asking if we need some kind of support and what more can I say,” he explains.
Regardless of all the difficulties that accompany domestic producers, Vesna is preparing for the processing of a new crop of standard and rare agricultural crops.
