Friends far and near,
the goal of this fundraiser is to help the farmers in Korçë, Albania sell more produce and continue farming - by bringing awareness, resources and economic activity in the area. Let's try to meet regulation to bring the fresh produce to the US.
SHARE the fundraiser with your local State Representative
TELL Your Employer - if you're in the food business
#investinKorce #Countmein #reachglobalmarkets
---------------------------------------------
As many of you, I would love to see fresh volume from Albania at Costco. It is possible. However, we need to centralize resources, meet US Standards and get the right people involved. And we've come a long way!
We need a few things prior to importing:
- test the soil, water and air
- remove any heavy metals
- centralize and teach the farmers
- approved seeds
- we need fertilizers to comply with US Standards
- consistent monitoring
While some farmers are knowledgeable and dedicated others are not. We have to train the farmers. We will organize the harvest, the delivery schedule and ensure compliance with packaging.
We will also try to bring one truck of frozen potatoes and onions this summer.
We have a qualified team ready to help! In Albania (10 folks to lead operations!) and in the US (for getting to market, administrative and compliance purposes)
I do need everyone to do their part! To allow us to do this, politicians also need to see that we want this to happen, collectively as Albanian Americans.
The quarry in Burimas has heavy metals and the fumes circulate through other villages. It’s impacted people’s health along with the farming. It’s also impacted Lake Prespa, a UNESCO protected site impacting biodiversity and cross border country lines - Greece Macedonia and Albania.
We have a few historians ready to help us bring some of the history back, local political support and we also have contractors ready fix the infrastructure.
I’m looking forward to working with all of you! Let me know if you'd like to be part of the journey!
with gratitude,
Armiona Postol
—————-
Work that has been done!
We've created a website (www.bei.farm)
We sent a few testing kits to Albania and the quarry between Burimas and Zvezdë is less than 200 meters from the nearest home with heavy metals. These are large villages. The particles in the air, water streams and in the soil extend across the Korçë plain. It's been operating for over 20 years.
The ONLY test result that turned positive was Bacteria
heavy metals
- impact people’s lives & health
- contaminate the food supply
- contaminate the drinking and bathing water
- air they breathe
- it’s impacted their main source of income
it effects children, elderly and people with pre-known diseases the most
The same with unmonitored pesticides!
Many countries sell produce and meats in the US, some of which include Kenya and Peru. Peru has a trade agreement with the US. US needs volume from other countries to ensure supply on the shelves. This effort is a win for both countries.
We reached out to key individuals in procurement, finance - grants/loans, distribution and supply chain, policy makers, clean water infrastructure, and general donations - raspatory equipment, drinking water, and basic over the counter needs like toothpaste:
- Senator Fazio's office
- Representative Constantine
- Joe Hoxha
- Adam Kaplan
- Dole
- General Mills
- Balnfin/Spar
- Dua Lipa
- Edi Rama
- Pepsico
- Lamb Weston
- McDonald's
- Trade Joe's
- Carrefour
- Lidl
- Nestle
- IRCA Group
- Richard Lukaj
- Erlin Sulo
- Xylem
- Wakefern Food Corp
- APHIS
- USDA - AMS/COOL/FAS/APIE
- Port in Greece
- Department of Agriculture in Albania
- Slow Food
- Honeywell
- Non profits to see how'd they'd get involved
- Dentists, doctors, and others to offer their services
- Albanian Restaurant Owners, Social Clubs, other other businesses across Boston, New York, Florida, Tennessee, New Jersey to Michigan, and Chicago
We received feedback to:
- create a committee at the Federal level to ease trade
- Reaching out to our Senators and House of Representatives in Washington DC
- We’ve notified personal in many other States and we’ve also reached out to individuals from the White House.
The only fresh varieties that are allowed in the US from Albania today are strawberries and blackberries. Please visit the APHIS Database for more updates.
Bei logo, digitally designed by Print Station, Korçë.
Bei trademark and marketing was reviewed by Malellari Law (https://malellarilaw.com/)
We’ve received: $250 from Muddy Waters, New London CT
$50 from Carmine Paolino
Postcards distributed across International Women’s Day Motrat Qirazi event by Neviana Zhgaba owner of AquilasNest in Newtown. Same were done by Gezim Bylyku and Alesandra Aliu hosts of the Mother's Day parties, across Hartford area and within Waterbury, CT. Postcards were also placed at the Mosque for people to take.
Jurgen Dulo (Burimas), Adi Mullalli (Zemblak) and Fatos Kadillari have devoted a lot of time to help with this effort
If you have a moment, please visit the website and let me know what products you would be most excited to see in the U.S. so we can prioritize.
Together, we’ve reached several meaningful milestones:
- Promoted the initiative locally in Korçë and across Albania so farmers can access new markets
Local children wearing and supporting this initiative. If you would like memorabilia to support the cause, send me a note.
We’ve received beautiful photos from Sualdo Dino Photography, designed the postcards and sent them to local restaurants and hotels to see how they would feel about the effort.
- Created a brand and vision for how Korçë can be represented globally
- Worked with media to share the history and stories of the villages
- Connected with businesses and government representatives for guidance and support
- Hosted a toy drive at the Albanian Islamic Community Center in Waterbury ,CT. Thanks to our partners, we collected over 100 toys. We’ve wrapped them and sent them to Albania!
Word Wide Shipping and Alushi Shpk Durres brought these to the children within Albania. And Burim Fida sent them through Cargo for free!
Over time, these efforts can also help strengthen the villages — bringing more economic activity, improving infrastructure, and making visits home even more meaningful for those who own land or have family there.
We have also visited many facilities and had conversations with major European Importers.
- EuroGrocery in Middletown CT
- E.Armata in Hunts Point
- Alb Flavor Hunts Point. We’ve had many conversations with other such as importers Katzman.
- We’ve notified the workers in the major warehouses in CT (Bozzutos and Napoli). We’ve also reached out to smaller importers, restaurants and social clubs within CT.
If this speaks to you, please share it with friends and family in Albania, the U.S., and beyond. When you see the bei logo on social media, a simple like or tag helps more than you know.
We’ll continue sharing updates through the newsletter and website about our progress and the impact your support is making.
If you’d like to get involved, we would truly love to hear from you — feel free to reach out through the website (www.bei.farm).
Let's do this!
Organizer
