Kozak from untouched pastures - Organic goat cheese from Prijepolje to hit markets in June, exports to the EU, Russia and Arab countries in the pipeline

(Radoslav Korugic and Vladimir Skundric at the farm)

With fifty young goats and a couple of billy goats Vladimir Skundric and Radoslav Korugic started two years ago in the Zvijezd village, near Prijepolje a goat farm.

- The expert public estimates that goat milk products will be extremely in deficit in the next decade and that the demand will be on in increase - Vladimir Skundric, who after studies in America and the work in multinational corporation decided to develop agriculture in Serbia, says for eKapija.

Only for the American market, we could deliver 250.000 t of this product.

Completely natural

The Kozak cheese is produced at 600 do 800 m of altitude in an untouched nature, between Zlatar and Jabuka, where there is no industry or polluters and where all plants are treated extremely with natural fertilizer.

- We believe and claim that our cheese is an organic product, however it will take two years so that it would become organic formaly – Skundric says.

Market prospects

As the demands increases, capacities will increase, Skundric says. In case, they have to start quick expansion, they bought additional 9 hectares of land. This year they hope for export which will require additional number of goats and the construction of another goat facility.

At the moment, you can try Kozak in restaurants Madera, Kalemegdanska terasa, Vatrenka, Vule Vu, Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belgrade, Boss in Subotica, RTB club in Bor. Preparations to enter retail have been in progress and the first stock in shelves are expected in June this year.

Negotiations with partners abroad are in progress.

Price in range with quality

(There are about 200 Alpine goats at the farm in Zvijezd)

Goat cheese market retail price starts from RSD 1.500 up. In other countries, minimal price is some EUR 15 per kg while the usual price is EUR 25 per kg.

Retail price of Kozak is RSD 1.200 per kg.

Health export

Goat milk products are extremely healthy. They differ from cow milk in content and quality.

Goat milk contains less fat and the fat it contains has positive HDL cholesterol, unlike fats in cow milk which contains more of negative LDL cholesterol.

Ivana Bezarevic