The late spring has created major problems for the country’s vegetable growers. The cold and unusually few hours of sunshine this winter have delayed cultivation, which could lead to higher prices for consumers.
– If you get a lower harvest, you want to compensate in some way, says Marcus Söderlind, chairman of LRF Trädgård.
According to Söderlind, it is the cold combined with unusually few hours of sunshine in February and March that caused the problems. On average, growers are two to three weeks behind a regular season. One example is the tomato farm Tomaterian in Varberg, which has already had to turn away many customers in its farm shop.
– It’s boring. We, like everyone else, want everything to start. There is a longing for locally produced Swedish ingredients right now, says Amanda Bertilsson, who is manager of the store section.
Only 30-40 percent of normal harvest
Inside the greenhouse there are many more unripe tomatoes than there should be at this point and so far only 30-40 percent of the normal crop.
– I can’t remember a more difficult year actually. We’ve fallen behind a lot and haven’t gotten the tomatoes we wanted. Now it would have been full production here, says Raimo Einosson, gardener.
May lead to higher prices
According to LRF, the problems can, at least initially, lead to higher prices for Swedish-grown vegetables. Especially since the delay also affected those who grow outdoors. Amanda Bertilsson has the following wish for the weather going forward:
– Sun and warmth. We all need that, both the plants and us humans, I think, she says.