Spring veg will likely be costly in Latvia this year

Jānis Lucāns, owner of the "Bušas" farm in Burtnieki Parish, has been growing cucumbers for 27 years, and this spring they are planted in 10 greenhouses covering one hectare.

"We have the so-called long cucumbers, and we also have short cucumbers this year. The market is already changing a bit, because our market is very closely linked to Western European markets. Consequently, depending on what type a grower there is growing and how much, we are also forced to adapt so that our produce sells better. So we are also forced to grow long cucumbers, short cucumbers, well, that’s just normal,” explained Lucāns.

"Bušas" isn’t complaining about the harsh winter, though, because they’ve only just started heating the greenhouses now that the season is beginning.

"We drain the water out of our greenhouses and let it freeze. When we start the season, we also start heating, begin growing cucumber seedlings, and plant them," said the farmer.

At the moment, however, the farmer is not yet ready to speculate on whether cucumber prices might rise:

"Cucumber prices will be influenced more by supply and demand; that’s a classic market dynamic. The fact that fuel prices have gone up, of course, increases costs; it’s not pleasant, but it’s an objective reality we can’t avoid. That inflation rate will likely have to be absorbed just as we absorb it when we buy any products at the store.”

Cēsis farm forecasts price increase

This week, cucumbers grown at the Cēsis greenhouse "Kliģēni" will start making their way to buyers. They are grown on one hectare of the farm, while tomatoes are grown on two hectares. Farm director Aleksandrs Raubiško noted that we should expect early vegetables to be more expensive this spring: "I think so. I can’t tell you exactly what the percentage [price increase] might be right now, but we should expect something in the range of 10–15 per cent."

The farm manager attributed this to the impact of the harsh winter and to global developments that have affected energy prices:

"If prices go up there, then gas becomes more expensive for us, too. Greenhouses, where some kind of production takes place, are particularly affected, because energy costs account for about 65 to 70 per cent of our expenses. Another thing is that this winter was already a major test for us, who have to maintain these facilities, because we have to keep the temperature at 4–5 degrees [Celsius], since there is technology, automation, and electronics involved; those are pure expenses."

"Kliģēni" cucumbers will start hitting stores this week, but tomatoes will have to wait a bit longer.

"We can expect tomatoes either in late April or early May. It all depends on God and the sun," said Raubiško.

Planting season was tough in Aloja

The new harvest is also anticipated at the Aloja farm, where, as owner Ira Rudzīte explained, tomatoes are growing in a 500-square-meter greenhouse and cucumbers in a 300-square-meter greenhouse: "I already have little tomatoes about the size of a five-cent coin, the cucumbers will bloom any day now, and the harvest will be around April 15 or 16."

The farm owner explained that the harsh winter affected the start of planting: "The beginning was very difficult because the peat was brought in from Estonia and had frozen solid. We had to cut it into pieces with a Husqvarna."

Cucumbers will be ready soon, but tomatoes in May. Farm owner Ira Rudzīte estimates that prices likely won’t rise much, as purchasing power must be taken into account:

"It looks like things will stay the same as they were. Maybe they’ll be able to add a little something to the price of tomatoes or cucumbers. Well, how much more can you ask for? How much more can you ask for?”

Optimism ahead of the new harvest is fueled by the conviction that buyers do, after all, appreciate the quality of vegetables grown in Latvia, said "Bušas" owner Jānis Lucāns:

"I think buyers will basically choose local produce because it’s simply normal, tasty, and edible. Imported cucumbers have travelled a long way, so they’ve already lost their freshness, and the flavour is gone. All that’s left is the structure of the cucumber or tomato, and the flavour is really gone. Even if a buyer purchases them for that low price, they won’t get any enjoyment out of them.”