HISTORY     

        The Agency for Regional Development -Velingrad was established in September 2000 as a Non-Governmental Organization.
        During 2001 - 2003 the Agency for Regional Development - Velingrad realized the project "Creation of a Virtual Incubator for Cultivated Herb Growing and Mutual Help in the Community" - SMAEP Programme of MLSP and EU PHARE Programme. Its aim was to create employment in the regions of Velingrad and Rakitovo. Partners in the project are Velingrad and Rakitovo Municipalities. The duration was 11 months, funding amounts to EUR 69,721. In this period was created the whole base for the virtual incubator for herb-growing with an area of 16 decares, including a service building of 126 sq.m with training hall, 5 decares production of seedling growing areas with automated watering system and 11 decares of experimental base. 133 unemployed were trained in herb cultivation and Start Your Own Agricultural Business, 65 agricultural businesses were started, 150 consultations were held, and a production and marketing group of herb growers was established. A strategy was developed for herb growing and the first two stages are already completed. The preparation of the remaining two stages is completed. The project has been assessed as extremely successful, and was nominated as one of the top 10 projects in Bulgaria. This successful practice is applied in seven municipalities in Bulgaria, within the component 'Jobs in Herbs' of JOBS project of MLSP and UNDP. The Government of the Kingdom of Norway provided funding amounting to USD 135,000. Herb growing is included as a priority in the National Programme for Alternative Agriculture in the Rodopi Mountain.

        The wild berries are one of the priceless natural resources of the Velingrad region. For centuries, the women have been collecting pure blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries, which are of the highest ecological quality because they grow at an altitude of between 1.200 and 1.600 meters in regions without pollution.
In 2003 the Agency for Regional Development - Velingrad implemented project "Mountain Eco Kiss". Its main goal was to develop new methods to decrease poverty by using the available natural resources of wild berries and mushrooms in an ecologically-friendly manner. The project was financed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of Great Britain and North Ireland - DEFRA. The project is related to the building of a training and production technology centre for processing of wild fruits, training in their ecological gathering, and eco-certification of locations, groups of gatherers, and the end product of processing - jams with low content of sugar. The objective is to encourage the start of own business by women in small villages in Velingrad and Rakitovo Municipalities and to develop a new market niche for specific products. Preserve samples had been developed as well as marketing strategy development was started.
We combined the know-how of the local women with traditional skills and turned the production of wild berry jams into a profitable business, offering a collection of 10 different jams. The picking, cleaning, processing and packaging of these berries is all done by hand, which makes these jams unique.
          We presented the collection of wild berry jams for the first time at the National Festival of Organic Agriculture 2003, which was organized by the Foundation for Organic Agriculture "Bioselena". We received first prize for the most original packaging and presentation. At the end of the same year on traditional fair "Made in Bulgaria" who carried out in National Palace of Culture - Sofia the jams from wild berries won the Silver lion award. This award was won and during 2004. During the 2005 the jams won again first prize at National Festival of Organic Agriculture 2005, which was organized by the Foundation for Organic Agriculture "Bioselena".
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         We presented the collection of wild berry jams for the first time at the National Festival of Organic Agriculture 2003, which was organized by the Foundation for Organic Agriculture "Bioselena". We received first prize for the most original packaging and presentation.
        BIOSTART Ltd. was established in April 2003 as a trade company of the Agency for Regional Development - Velingrad. Its main activities are harvesting and processing of wild berries and herbs, and production and processing of organic and agricultural products, including cultivated herbs and spices. The firm is organic certified from the UK-based Soil Association Certification Ltd., whose symbol of organic produce is internationally recognized in Europe, Asia and America.
        BIOSTART Ltd. . Is a founder - member of Association "Bioproduct - BG" which incorporate producers, processors and traders of organic products from Bulgaria. The goals of Association are to support development of organic production through lobby and representation, developing of market of organic products in Bulgaria, guaranty of origin and quality of the proposed products.

        BIOSTART Ltd. is also helping to improve the economic situation in Bulgaria by creating jobs in one of the areas of highest unemployment in the country.