A reference database has been set up, cataloging varieties of Estonian strawberries. Hopefully, this will help prevent fraud and will be able to test if fruit advertised as locally grown really did originate in Estonia. Knowing the geographical origin of strawberries is important because it helps protect the Estonian market and supports farmers and strawberry growers. The database is the culmination of a three-year project at the Center of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge (METK), which mapped the Estonian strawberries' characteristics.
Piret van der Sman is the deputy head of METK's plant health and microbiology laboratory. He explained the project to Vikerradio's "Huvitaja" program: "Strawberries grown in Estonia often cost more than imported varieties because the market is small and they can be produced more cheaply in bigger countries. However, Estonians still often prefer to buy domestic produce, despite higher prices. Sellers sometimes try and pass off foreign-grown fruit as domestic strawberries, charging higher prices. There have been several cases of Polish strawberries mislabeled as Estonian, for example."
"But even if there are rumors of fraudulent activity, it cannot be confirmed until there is hard evidence. This is where the database will come in handy. The berries' place of origin can be determined by their unique isotopes, which differ from location to location."
Estonia's database is not unique, and there are several across Europe, including Finland and Sweden, which makes it easy to determine strawberries' origins.
Source: news.err.ee
