"Farmers' Council": The yield of field-grown raspberries this year could be smaller than last year

The harvest of field-grown raspberries this year may be smaller than last year, taking into account the damage caused to raspberries by winter frost and spring frosts.

Juris Lazdiņš, Chairman of the Board of the Association “Farmers' Council”: "Raspberries in the field suffered from winter frost and died in many places in Latvia. Raspberries have also been affected by the various and changing weather conditions in the spring and early summer, when some places have had to deal with drought. This means that this year there will be fewer raspberries grown in the field for sale, and the quality of the berries will have been affected by the weather. Fruit growers who grow berries in tunnels have had a better raspberry harvest, as they allow for easier control of growing conditions.

"The raspberry season in Latvia has already started and local raspberries are available in stores. Berry growers will try to keep the price of raspberries at last year's level, despite the increasing cultivation costs, losses and this year's increased value-added tax rate from 5% to 12% for fruits and vegetables typical of Latvia."