(within the frame of the Grant Programme in the Organic Sector supported by Switzerland)
About the company
Nature Green Ukraine LLC (Nature Green Ukraine TM) was founded in 2018 in the very west of Ukraine, among the picturesque landscapes of Zakarpattia, near the borders with Slovakia and Hungary. For several years, the company has been successfully developing a unique business — growing organic exotic mushrooms, including shiitake, eringa, coloured oyster mushrooms, and Lions’s Mane
(Hericium erinaceus) mushrooms.
It is the only company in Ukraine with a full cycle of organic mushroom cultivation. The company operates on a closed-cycle technology — from creating its own substrate to harvesting, packaging and sales. All the processes are closely monitored by specialists, and the production is certified in accordance with organic standards as well as food safety requirements (FSSC 22000), which guarantees high quality and safety of mushrooms.
Production without breaks and borders. The company employs more than forty people — mushroom growers, technologists, logisticians, and packers. The mushroom farm operates all year round, without seasonal shutdowns. One production cycle lasts about four months and includes substrate preparation, inoculation with mycelium, incubation, fruiting, and packaging.
90% of the mushrooms are exported to Europe. Today, Nature Green Ukraine’s products are successfully exported to Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, the UK, and other EU countries. The rest is sold on the domestic market of Ukraine both wholesale and through retail chains.
Support within the Grant Programme and achievements
Despite the war, Nature Green Ukraine has not stopped working. On the contrary, it was in the midst of a full-scale invasion that the company was looking for new ways to develop.
Faced with a drop in demand for its bulk products and rising costs of materials, the company decided to change its approach to sales and took part in the Grant Programme within the project “Women Entrepreneurship in the Organic Sector” (WEOS) supported by Switzerland.
After receiving the grant, the company purchased a horizontal flow-pack machine with an overhead film feeder. This allowed the company to switch to modern packaging of mushrooms in 100-500 gram trays wrapped in shrink film. The new format did not only make the products more convenient for customers, but also opened the door to retail chains.
Thanks to the grant programme, sales of mushrooms increased from 5 to 6 tonnes per week, and sales of organic shiitake increased from 400 kilograms to 1 tonne per month. The company has signed new contracts with Silpo and Novus retail chains and has also started negotiations with Metro and MHP Vegetable Treasury.
Expansion of production did not only allow to retain the team, but also to create 7 new jobs, including for people with disabilities, veterans, pensioners, and internally displaced people.
Nature Green Ukraine does not forget about its social responsibility. For more than two years, the company has been supplying mushrooms to the Regional Hospital for War Veterans free of charge, supporting volunteer centres and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and has also financed the purchase of two pick-up trucks for the frontline.
In addition to the technical upgrades, Nature Green Ukraine also focused on the marketing component: it conducted a study of the Ukrainian market, updated the packaging and label design, and launched a Ukrainian-language website and social media pages. This helped to significantly increase brand awareness among Ukrainian consumers.
Plans for the future
In the short term, the company plans to develop the mushroom processing business, including drying, pickling, and making mushroom powder. The company also plans to expand exports to the EU and promote organic mushrooms on the domestic market, particularly in the HoReCa segment.
Another ambitious goal is to set up its own training centre for beginner mushroom growers, which will become a platform for sharing knowledge, innovations, and experience.
Nature Green Ukraine is an example of a modern Ukrainian business that combines environmental friendliness, social responsibility, and entrepreneurial sustainability.
The company’s history proves that even in the most difficult times Ukrainian producers are able not only to survive but also to grow, creating jobs, supporting communities, and promoting the Made in Ukraine brand on the European market.
Advice from owner:
Oleksandra Torin: Any business develops when it is ready for change. It is important not to be afraid to invest in technology, new formats, marketing, and people. Every crisis is not the end, but an opportunity to rethink the approach and reach a new level. This is how we were able to maintain production during the war and even grow.
* Grant Program in the Organic Sector is funded by Switzerland and implemented within the framework of
- the project “Women Entrepreneurship in the Organic Sector” (WEOS) implemented by ICO “Information Center “Green Dossier” in partnership with Organic Initiative Public Association, and
- the Swiss-Ukrainian Programme “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP) implemented by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, Switzerland) in partnership with SAFOSO AG (Switzerland).