Jens Bennedsen, a strawberry grower in the Danish Harres could only harvest 70 percent of what he was able to harvest in previous years due to the persistent heat. Due to the warm spring the strawberry season started earlier than usual this year. " it="" went="" so="" quickly="" we="" weren't="" able="" to="" pick="" them="" all.="" the="" faster="" they="" ripen,="" longer="" takes="" us="" go="" down="" all="" rows,"="" says="" bennedsen.="" "at="" a="" certain="" point="" had="" decide="" leave="" large="" number="" of="" strawberries="" and="" best="" ones="" at="" very="" least."
Bennedsen grows four different strawberry varieties, of which a number aren't supplied to retail. " our="" coronas="" are="" intended="" solely="" for="" individual="" picking,="" we="" don't="" sell="" them="" to="" shops.="" they're="" too="" sensitive="" that.="" they="" have="" a="" lovely="" scent,="" however,="" which="" makes="" extremely="" popular="" among="" those="" who="" come="" here="" pick="" themselves."
Dependent on demand
Around half of Bennedsens turnover comes from the strawberries he sells the retail. This means he is largely dependent on their purchasing. " it's="" noticeable="" that="" the="" strawberries="" are="" a="" few="" weeks="" earlier="" than="" usual.="" there="" is="" normally="" higher="" demand="" in="" holidays,="" but="" now="" ripe="" before="" them="" and="" just="" isn't="" there,"="" explains="" bennedsen.="" "we're="" lucky="" strawberry="" season="" still="" persisting="" or="" it="" would="" have="" been="" real="" disaster.="" i'm="" glad="" we="" some="" sunshine="" again="" after="" days="" of="" wind="" rain,="" so="" we're="" able="" to="" harvest="" for="" another="" weeks."<="" p="">
Other growers
Kristian Krogh, who runs Kroghs Grønt with his wife Dorthe, is happy they grow five different strawberry varieties. "We're less vulnerable than others because we have various varieties that ripen at different times. This normally gives us a longer strawberry season, but this year the ripening periods were close together," says Krogh. "We're lucky with our varieties. We're able to supply strawberries for the next two weeks, but it's hectic when you have weather conditions like this."
Strawberry grower Henning Elneff in Løgunkloster only grows the Polka strawberry because it's popular among customers. This makes him very dependent on the weather conditions and means he has a short harvesting period.