Armenia. Tavush. 2013. Albert Mikichyan is 72 years old and lives in Ayrum with his wife, Laura. Albert used to work in the Soviet-run fruit processing factories before they were closed in the 1990s. He is a member of the Lchkadzor Co-op and has given a lot of advice to the other members about managing the new fruit processing plant that has just been built with support from Oxfam.
"I know what kind of fruit is good for canning, more suitable for syrups and jams, what specific time in the season to pick fruit to make the best juice and so on. It's very important to have this knowledge. Lots of people in the community pick fruit and nuts and make their own syrups and jams at home, but when you are producing on a big scale, there are lots of different things to take into account."