Agriculture, Foodstuff, Latvia, Markets and Companies

"The harvest will be good, but about one month later than usual due to the cold spring this year. Broccoli and iceberg lettuce seem to be really good, cauliflowers – not so much, as do the other vegetables that were planted in the latter half of the summer," said Martins Boguss, co-owner of the "Apini" farm in Ilukste Region. Potatoes will be of good quality, but in limited quantity, he added.

Rucava Region farmer Arnis Radomiskis said that vegetables on his farm did not look very attractive due to dry weather – his farm has not seen rain since the beginning of August.

"We water carrots at night, sometimes up until six in the morning. Potatoes are doing fine, while the carrots need more water," said the farmer. But overall, there is nothing to complain about, and beet, onions and carrots will be ripe soon, he said.

Juris Cirulis, the owner of the "Mezaciruli" farm in Jelgava Region, said that vegetables grown in Latvia this year may be smaller than imported ones, but their nutritional value is the same as that of imported vegetables.

Zigfrids Krievins, the owner of the "Sviki" farm in Cesvaine Region, also said he was expecting good vegetable harvest. "We mostly grow onions, carrots, cabbages, beet, potatoes," said Krievins. "It seems we will have a lot of carrots, onions, and beet, while tomatoes are still ripening in the hothouse. We will sell the vegetables to the cooperative society, which guarantees a fixed price for a certain period of time," he added.

"Musmaju darzeni" cooperative society's head Edite Strazdina confirmed that good carrot, potato, cabbage and beet harvest was expected in Vidzeme and central Latvia.

She said beet may not look their best, as well as some tomatoes, and also carrots, cabbages, cauliflowers from Kurzeme and Latgale. And yet, vegetable harvest this year will be better than usual.

"Cabbage harvest will be very good. Taking into consideration the heat wave in Europe this summer, vegetables grown in Latvia will be in good demand in other European countries," said Strazdina.