Latvian strawberry producers expect to begin the mass harvest of open-field berries shortly before Ligo. After several challenging seasons, farmers anticipate a good harvest, although some farms have faced drought and an invasion of May beetle larvae.
The mass harvest of open-field strawberries in Latvia is expected around June 20 this year — a few days before the Ligo holiday. This was reported by berry producers surveyed by the LETA agency, who generally assess the condition of the plantations positively after winter.
According to the agronomist of the "Augusta zemenes" brand, Guntars Dzervi, the first berries are already beginning to ripen, but the main harvest is still ahead. He noted that spring frosts caused virtually no damage to the strawberry fields, so the harvest should be quite good.
The main unfavorable factor this spring has not been the cold weather, but the lack of moisture. The drought has slowed down the development of the plants, and producers are hoping for additional precipitation in the coming weeks.
Farmers note that strawberries in open fields have survived the winter significantly better than plants in greenhouses and other closed structures. In several farms, it was the closed ground that suffered from freezing, while most open plantations remained intact with no serious losses.
What is important to know: after several unsuccessful seasons, many farms are counting on a truly good harvest for the first time in recent years. This may also positively affect prices for consumers.
According to Dzervi's estimates, the price of open-field strawberries at the height of the season may range from five to eight euros per kilogram. Exact prices will depend on the volume of the harvest and weather conditions; however, traditionally, before Ligo, the supply of berries in the market sharply increases, which contributes to a decrease in prices.
Similar forecasts are given by other producers. A representative of "Mālpils zemenes," Andris Apsitis, also expects the mass harvest to begin around June 20. He noted that it is still too early to make final predictions, as much depends on the weather in the second half of June.
In the "Igaunīši" farm, the first berries are expected to be ready around June 17, with the main harvest anticipated during the Ligo holidays.
At the same time, not all news for producers has been positive. In several farms, the larvae of the May beetle have become a serious problem, damaging the root system of the plants. According to Dzervi, in some areas, the damage has been so significant that after destroying the plantings, it will be necessary to grow other crops for several years to restore the soil.
Despite this, the overall mood of farmers remains optimistic. After several years when the harvest suffered from unfavorable weather and incurred losses, this season could become one of the most successful in recent times.
If the weather conditions remain favorable, Latvian open-field strawberries will appear in large volumes in markets and retail outlets just in time for one of the country's main summer holidays.
