Established in 2012, the sea buckthorn orchard covers a 16 hectares surface in Trivalea Mosteni, Teleorman county. By 2020, based on our development schedule, the orchard surface will grow up to 50 hectares. For the moment the remaining 34 hectares are covered with Lucerne; this fabaceae plant ensures good provisions of nutrients in soil (mostly assimilable nitrogen).

The climacteric conditions (Gavanu – Burdea plain), dry and warm, are perfect for sea buckthorn shrubs. The long sun light exposure ensures uniform ripening of the berries and stimulates the accumulation of specific substances in high concentration.

We grow the sea buckthorn shrubs in a healthy environment – kipping the orchard clean is the priority of our program; using only approved technologies in organic farming, we focus on maintaining clean rows, mowing vegetation between rows periodically and ensure optimal soil moisture.
The orchard is fully irrigated by drip irrigation system, in this way we can reach the water requirements during the summer months.

Since CATARG ACTIV vision is directed toward to “sustainable agriculture” and the use of healthy resources, the sea buckthorn orchard is ecologically certified since 2016. For the pest control the nature gives us a helping hand – the lady bug (Coccinella coccinella) is feeding herself with aphid larvae; also the pheromone traps are targeted “tools” which do not affect the useful fauna (bees, spiders etc…).

The use of improved varieties, grown in certified nurseries, makes production potential to rise up to 100 tons of berries annually.

As the sea buckthorn berries, once detached from the branches, are highly sensitive to oxidation, the properties preservation is essential. The adequate harvest technology consists in the following steps: detaching the branches from the shrubs; quick freezing the branches; shaking the frozen branches and separating the berries, leaves and thorns; keeping the berries frozen until processing.

Our cold facilities are specifically designed for a correct harvest with a storage capacity of 100 tons of IQF berries.