The first harvest of strawberries has begun in Latvian greenhouses, but the cool spring has delayed the ripening of the berries. For now, local strawberries remain expensive — in some farms, the price reaches 15 euros per kilogram.
The season for the first local strawberries, grown in greenhouses and tunnels, has begun in Latvia. However, due to the cool spring, the berries are ripening noticeably slower than usual this year.
Producers report that a full-scale harvest will only start next week, and for now, there are still few strawberries on the market — which is why prices remain high.
Guntars Dzervs, an agronomist at the "Augusta zemenes" farm, stated that the first berries are already appearing in their greenhouses, but the process is slow.
Meanwhile, in some farms — for example, in Talsi, Mangalsala, and the Jekabpils region — strawberries are already being harvested for sale.
According to Dzervs, currently, strawberries sold in Latvia mainly come from heated greenhouses. In unheated tunnels, the berries are still ripening.
This directly affects the price.
Currently, the price of Latvian strawberries in farms ranges from about 10 to 15 euros per kilogram. When the mass harvesting of berries begins in unheated greenhouses, the price may drop to 8–12 euros.
Producers admit that buyers have become more cautious about expensive strawberries.
Against the backdrop of rising costs for fuel, electricity, and heating, the purchasing power of residents has decreased, and the demand for early berries is not as high as it was a few years ago.
At the same time, farmers themselves note that this cool spring has its advantages.
Due to stable temperatures, strawberries are less prone to diseases, so less plant protection products are needed. Additionally, there were no sharp temperature fluctuations in spring that could have worsened the harvest.
According to agronomists, the forecasts for the season currently look quite good.
Laine Aukmane, a representative of the "Jaunvecumi" farm, reported that in their heated greenhouses, strawberries were specifically grown to have the first berries ready by Mother's Day — and this goal was achieved.
However, the cold nights have significantly increased heating costs, so the price of strawberries at the farm is now also around 15 euros per kilogram.
Dina Jansone, the owner of the "Dainas" farm, stated that in their tunnels, strawberries are just starting to turn red. They plan to start sales next week, aiming for a price of around 10 euros per kilogram.
Currently, farmers are also noting another feature of the season: local strawberries are already being actively advertised on social media, although the actual volume of the harvest is still small.
This means that the first batches of berries remain more of a "premium" seasonal product rather than a mass commodity.
