Municipality of Valandovo
Beautiful Valley at 226m elevation—North Macedonia's pomegranate capital with winery, greenhouses, and poultry processing near the Greek border.
Valandovo—"Beautiful Valley" in old Slavic—exists on the Vardar's left bank at one of North Macedonia's lowest elevations (226 meters), where Mediterranean climate influence reaches its continental limit. This municipality of 10,580 residents in the Southeastern Statistical Region produces tobacco, pomegranates, grapes, and early vegetables in conditions unique to the country.
The formation era established trade connecting the settlement to Thessaloniki, exporting cattle, hides, trout, oil, wool, silk, pomegranates, and agricultural products. The Isar archaeological site documents ancient economic development through agriculture, livestock, and mining. The pomegranate became so associated with Valandovo that the town claims the fruit as its symbol.
Today Valandovo operates through agriculture and food processing: Winery Valandovo processes grapes; Eco Greenhouses Anska Reka produces vegetables; Agripro raises poultry; Dairy Vardarec manufactures dairy products. The southeastern region's 230 sunny days annually and mild dry winters enable year-round production. The municipality's proximity to Greek and Bulgarian borders positions it for cross-border trade as EU accession advances. The region leads nationally in early vegetables, fresh produce, and tobacco.
By 2026, Valandovo's combination of climate, border access, and established agricultural processing creates competitive positioning for European market integration. Green technologies, renewable energy, and digitalization represent development opportunities that the region actively pursues. The pomegranate economy and wine production offer niche differentiation within Macedonian agriculture.