In the gentle hills of Elbasan, where fresh air and fertile soil meet in natural harmony, lies a small village with a big name, Godoleshi. Known as the “village of cherries,” this small village produces around 700 tons of cherries each year, a fruit that has become a passport of pride for the area and beyond.
On these warm days of May, in Godolesh, Elbasan, the cherry harvest season has begun and farmers are busy harvesting the fruits of a year's work. Xhevahir Ademi, one of the most famous names in cherry cultivation, is the symbol of returning from emigration and of success in cultivating this very tasty fruit. With 1,500 cherry trees in his plantation, he is a success story that began with emigration, but took strong root in his homeland.
“This year is very good,” says Ademi. “The first batch of cherries went for 5-6 thousand lek per kilogram because of the high quality, while the second batch is around 2,000–2,500 lek. This is an autochthonous cherry, only Godoleshi has this variety. This year, only we have production because the weather has damaged other areas like Dibra, Korça, or Berat. This has affected the price and demand, so we are very pleased.”
The Godolesh cherry is not just a delicious fruit, it is a legacy, an economy and hope for the future. This season has been the best in the last 30 years, with the price per kilogram reaching 250 to 500 lekë, due to the lack of production in the rest of the country.
“Traders come every day from Tirana and all over Albania. They have increased like never before, up to 20 vans or trucks per day,” says Ademi. Xhevahir’s story is a mirror of a return to identity. Once, he had left his village of Godolesh and emigrated to Greece for a better life.
But it was his Greek employer who opened his eyes: “He told me: ‘Go back to Albania, your cherries are worth more than the work you do here.’ And he was right. That made me come back. Emigration was not an option. Here I work for myself, close to my family. This is the best thing,” he says with conviction.
Today, Godoleshi has become a symbol of smart and sustainable agriculture. The farmers of this village have preserved an indigenous variety, invested in roots and quality, and built a sustainable economy without any external help. Growing demands from the domestic market, the unquestionable quality of the fruit, and this year’s favorable price have made farmers more optimistic than ever. And as Albania struggles to find its way to agricultural development, Godoleshi is an example to follow: a place where the fruits of labor bring not only income, but also pride.
(BalkanWeb)
