Locally grown apples are gaining in popularity in Sweden. Both the area and the number of growers have increased in recent years. Right now, 1,532 hectares of land is used for the production of apples, an increase of nearly 12 per cent between 2011 and 2017. The number of apple growers has also increased in that period: from 236 to 284.
About one in four apples sold in Swedish shops is grown in Sweden. “Consumers have taken Swedish apples to their heart,” says Sten Olsson of horticultural cooperative LRF Trädgård. “A number of new companies have joined us, and they produced a lot. Sweden clearly has much demand for Swedish fruit. Moreover, the companies are capable of using competitive prices.” Last year, more than 22,100 tonnes of apples were harvested in Sweden. The year before that, it was 24,500 tonnes. Each hectare can yield 288,000 apples per harvest, according to statistics from the Swedish Agricultural Council.
This year, the apple harvest is expected to break all records, although it will be partly dependent on storage options.
Source: www.jp.se