Opinion by Agim Xhafka
Yesterday in Dvoran of Korça the “Apple Festival” took place. The area is full of such joys throughout the year. For example, “Beer Festival”, “Lakrori Festival”, “Tërhana Festival”, “Pickles Festival”, “Pastërma Festival”… I joked about some names that made me laugh, but I was almost crying with this “Apple Festival”. While in the village square the patrons, the municipal employees, the local officials were dancing and enjoying themselves, on the sidelines they were giving opinions for some portal journalists, those who produced the apples. Those who took care of the trees to the bone. Those who spent everything from pruning, root work, protection against pests to collecting and putting the produce in the bins. They were talking about how their expenses had increased, that the state did not cover any of their losses, that the collectors were getting their apples cheaper than in previous years. For example, last year they sold them for 600 old lek, this year for 350 old lek. And while the dance was shaking and the song was heard, the farmers closed the "joy" of the celebration with the words:
- It's not worth dealing with apples. You can't even harvest the money for the cost.
But the dances don't stop. The administration sings and twists its waist. The producers are mourning.
Yesterday, the "Apple Festival" was organized in Dvoran in Korça. The municipality sent the news to TV and the media. Of course, the footage. Those who took care of the apples, who got tired and spent money on them, were not caught on camera. They will definitely be caught tomorrow when they bury hundreds of kilos. They will throw them on the side of the plots or in the stream. And on those days, the "Apple Festival in the Canal" will be organized. This has been happening for years and years. Like a serial movie now. With many series. With as many apples that rot from year to year.
