From Skopje to Prespa: My Journey to Starting a Farm

At the Peak of Apple Harvest: Kajak.mk Shares Ana’s Story. We published this piece a while ago, but it never gets old or loses its charm—this story continues to inspire young people eager to start their own agricultural journey.Ana is a computer scientist with a degree in IT, who decided to dedicate her life to developing agritourism and producing something that truly benefits our country—fruit orchards.

Ana shared her story for the first time with Kajak.mk, and thanks to her inspiring journey, our team believes that the idea of developing agritourism in the country will reach many other young people who are still searching for themselves and their career paths.

Ana lived in Skopje for 17 years until the moment she decided to return to Prespa and realize her dream called “Spirit of Prespa.” Her love for Prespa and the desire to promote the region led to the creation of the “Spirit of Prespa” brand. The property has been in the family for over 60 years, and they are the fifth generation of owners.

The orchard, spanning 5 hectares, is planted with fruit trees where guests can learn about growing apples, cherries, and plums, and purchase products from their farm shop, which is stocked with goods from several Prespa families.

“In 2017, they realized that the farm needed diversification to remain sustainable. They conducted research and, following trends in America and Europe, decided to focus on agro-tourism.”

They started hosting pick-your-own-fruit events in 2018. During October, visitors can participate in the Apple Harvest, receiving branded tote bags to fill with apples of their choice.

Currently, as Ana mentions, those interested can contact them through their “Spirit of Prespa” page.

Their farm shop is located in Carev Dvor — a village in the Resen Municipality, in the Upper Prespa region, near the town of Resen. Carev Dvor lies about five kilometers north of the shore of Lake Prespa, at the crossroads of the Bitola-Korça and Resen-Ezerani roads, in the southern part of the Resen Field. The Bolshnica (Bolska River) flows through the village’s land, though its water level significantly decreases or completely dries up during the summer months.

What’s your story? Share it with Kajak.mk! Write to us at [email protected] or click HERE.