In the Odesa region, flour and rosehip oil are made
About 50 species of rose hips grow in Ukraine. The fruits of the plant contain a high concentration of carotene, vitamin C, and other nutrients. They are used in the pharmaceutical industry and for the creation of cosmetics. In particular, the fruit seed oil is highly valued.
In the Odessa region, a farmer's cooperative grows high-vitamin industrial varieties of rose hips, which differ from wild ones. So, some varieties do not have thorns, so the fruits are easier to pick.
“The advantage of the varietal rosehip is that it is easily separated from the branch, thus, the berries are not damaged,” said the chairman of the cooperative Pavel Tulba.
Rosehip yield can reach 6 tons per hectare.
Fresh hips cannot be squeezed; it must be dried immediately after harvesting. Therefore, after harvesting in the cooperative, the rose hips are transferred to a dryer. The berries are sorted. Some are sold whole, and some are crushed. Shredded rose hips are flour made from the rind and are used for the production of tea and dietary supplements. Rosehip seeds, which remained after grinding, are used for oil production.
“A kilogram of fresh berries costs UAH 20. However, processing makes it possible to triple the cost of rose hips,” the statement says.