Arilje, Serbia, known as the country's "raspberry capital," is projected to experience a 20-30% reduction in its raspberry yield this year due to a drought that occurred last year.

Arilje's raspberry fields, which yield between 15,000 and 20,000 tons annually on average, account for approximately 20% of Serbia's raspberry exports. Serbia is among the top three global exporters of raspberries, with about 90% exported frozen to markets including the United States and Japan. These frozen raspberries are primarily used in Europe for food processing, retail fruit, jams, yogurt, and bakery products.

Raspberry cultivation in Arilje involves traditional methods; the fruit is grown without chemicals and picked by hand. Weeds and grass in the fields are also cleared by hand. The majority of these operations are run as family businesses in the hilly landscape of Arilje, a municipality with approximately 17,000 residents located about 170 kilometers from Belgrade.

Producers in Arilje have identified unpredictable weather and unstable purchase prices as factors creating business uncertainty in recent years. Mileta Pilcevic, head of a local association of raspberry producers, stated that the price offered for raspberries often results in minimal or no profit for producers. Concerns over pricing have led to past protests by raspberry producers.

Pilcevic described the deep connection local producers have to their crop, stating, "We are born, we live and we die with raspberries." He also noted the unique concentration of raspberry production in the region, saying, "Arilje is unique in the world. You can't find a smaller place with such big concentration of raspberry production." He added, "It is not our job to be on the road but in the orchard. But, believe me when I say that we will be on the road if we have to."