Estonia is experiencing an early strawberry season as a result of an exceptionally warm May. Kadri Nebokat, proprietor of Laari Farm located in Tartu County, anticipates that the cost of Estonian strawberries will stabilize at the previous year's rates despite the early onset of the season. The farm noted that strawberries were ready for harvest by June, marking a deviation from the usual timeline due to the preceding three degrees warmer than average temperatures last month. Nebokat, who is in her 15th year of strawberry cultivation, attributes the successful early growth to the cold spring, which, under grow covers, proved beneficial for the strawberry plants.
The pricing of strawberries, as Nebokat points out, is influenced by various factors including the cost of fertilizers, plants, land, and labor, with current prices ranging between €12-14 per kilogram for Estonian-grown strawberries. Despite the daily fluctuation in prices, Nebokat remains optimistic that prices will not significantly decrease due to rising operational costs. The competition from imported strawberries, particularly from Poland and the Netherlands, priced between €1.50-4 per kilogram, underscores the challenges faced by local growers due to higher production costs and limited yield enhancement options.
The sector's reliance on labor from Ukraine is highlighted, with the early ripening season posing challenges for the timing of contracted workers' arrival. Andrus Horn, CEO of Helme Maasikakasvatuse OÜ, and Nebokat both note the difficulties in securing domestic labor for strawberry picking, with a reliance on youth volunteer groups and the general disinterest among Estonians in this type of seasonal work.
Source: news.err.ee