On September 29^th, Economic Growth Office Director Brian Martalus attended a grant signing with USAID/Kosovo’s Agriculture Growth and Rural Opportunities (AGRO) program for two new grants to local agricultural firms.  Grants to apple producer Dhemetra based in Gjilan, and Kemi Fruits, a raspberry producer covering the Pristina and Podujeva regions, will help the two companies expand their markets and extend the shelf life of their produces.  Specifically the grant will help Dhemetra establish of a modern storage facility with a capacity of 3,000- 4,000 metric tons for storage.  This will enable other apple farmers to offer their fresh produce after the harvest season is over, when the demand rises, offers from local producers are minimal, and the market is flooded with costly imported apples.  Kemi Fruits, a young company and a great example of entrepreneurship in Kosovo, will receive spraying, mulching and mowing equipment that the company will use to start offering trainings to smaller berry growers in Pristina and Podujeva.