At Austein Gård in Larvik, strawberry farmer Sondre Austein grows Norwegian strawberries in long rows in a tunnel of a greenhouse. On top of what looks like gutters, the strawberries are at a suitable height for picking. Now strawberry farmer Sondre Austein can offer strawberries from May to October. – It gives us the opportunity to start as early as now. Now we can grow strawberries for 4 to 4 1/2 months a year, says Austein. He is a fourth generation strawberry farmer. His father is still around and remembers what it was like before. Then the season was only 5-6 hectic weeks. For the rest of the year, the strawberries had to come from countries such as the Netherlands, Morocco and Egypt. Strawberries until 17 May In autumn 2021, Norgesgruppen together with BAMA and Gartnerhallen launched the “Strawberry Lift”. The aim is to increase sales of Norwegian berries and vegetables by 50 per cent by 2025. WANT TO EXPAND: Runar Hollevik in the Norgesgruppen wants Norwegian strawberries by 17 May. Photo: Norgesgruppen Already after one year, sales increased by 24 per cent, says CEO of Norgesgruppen, Runar Hollevik. This can be calculated as 4.2 million baskets of strawberries. They already know that Norwegians prefer Norwegian berries. According to a survey by the Information Office for Fruit and Greens in the summer of 2022, 87 percent of Norwegians answered that they think the taste of Norwegian strawberries is the best. The taste is worked on so that consumers get the good and “Norwegian” taste. – It is the sweet and fresh taste of strawberries that is summer, the farmer smiles and steals a berry from his own rows. Do you know the difference between Norwegian and foreign strawberries? Yes No I don’t like strawberries Show result – The dream is Norwegian strawberries until May 17, says Hollevik. The spring was cold this year, and the strawberries from Austein Gård were not delivered to the store until 26 May. But the strawberry farmer was able to fulfill the CEO’s wish the year before. COLD SPRING: Sondre Austein does not use light or heat in the greenhouses, so this year there were no early strawberries. Photo: Robert Hansen / news – We delivered strawberries until 16 May 2022. We depend on a good spring, as we only use natural light and heat, says Austein. Producers wanted Producers who dare to bet on the production of Norwegian strawberries at altitude are wanted in order to achieve the goal of more Norwegian berries. – We need more producers like Sondre, who dare to bet, says Hollevik. If we are to believe Austein, the risk with this type of strawberry cultivation is greater than with traditional cultivation. – Strawberry plants left outside can be harvested for three to four seasons before they have to be replaced, explains Austein. The variety he has in now has to be changed every year. It can therefore cost a lot if you make a few mistakes. At the same time, the benefits are great if things are done correctly. ABOVE THE GROUND: The strawberries at Austein farm are grown on tables in a large greenhouse. Photo: Robert Hansen / news Most strawberries are eaten in the summer, and to meet the high demand there is also a need to grow strawberries outside in the traditional way, according to Austein. He himself has 10 acres in the tunnel and 20 acres of strawberries in open fields.
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