Solar panels saved the business of a tea producer from Sîngerei

Two years ago, the entrepreneur decided to capitalize on half a hectare of land she owns in the Biruința town, Sîngerei district, and to grow medicinal plants there.

"The plants are not treated with anything. I launched this business to get an ecological product and first of all I thought about the health of my buyer. Maybe I will have a smaller quantity of produce, but in return it will be of better quality and healthier," says the entrepreneur.

Starting from planting, growing, harvesting, drying, chopping and packaging, every step of the production process is carefully monitored. Only whole leaves and flowers are used, and no preservatives or flavorings are added after processing and drying.

"Many medicinal and aromatic plants can be grown organically or organically, reducing pesticide use and environmental impact. Organic farming can attract a larger segment of consumers concerned about health and the environment," says Liliana Gheorghiță.

At the beginning, the Gheorghiță family tried to sell the plants to processors, but the prices were rather small and didn't come close to covering both the investment and the labor from planting to harvest. That's when they bought a plant dryer, so that the process could be done like in the old days, when grandparents used to dry plants for tea.

"That's how we started drying and making tea and spice mixes. We sell them at markets and fairs," says the businesswoman.

In the first year, the entrepreneur planted roses, chamomile, wormwood, marigold, marigold, and gypsy marigold, and gathered acacia and lime blossoms from the forest.

A year after launching the business, the energy crisis hit and Liliana was ready to close her business. Energy costs far exceeded income. But thanks to the help of the Austrian Development Agency through the UNDP project "Emergency support for agri-producers in the context of the socio-economic, climate and energy crisis", the entrepreneur managed to buy 8 kW solar panels, two heat pumps and a vegetable slicer. The woman wants to develop a line for manufacturing vegetable pistils according to an English recipe. The equipment will help create optimal conditions for storing and preserving semi-dried vegetables, which will help increase their shelf life to 2-3 years. The company will also save energy, which will enable it to reduce production and marketing costs.

"Teas and spices are not our only products. We also started making macerated oils from marigold, chamomile, and lily. They have been appreciated by those who know their miraculous effects," says Liliana.