Cranberries remain the most consumed berry in Latvia due to their long shelf life, according to the Latvian Fruit Growers Association (LAA). This season, the harvest at Latgale Cranberries, based in Ludza municipality near the Latvian-Russian border, has been notably high, with 50 tons of cranberries collected, Latgale Television reported.
The company, located near Zilupe, encouraged local residents to seek seasonal work in cranberry fields rather than abroad. "Other years, we either got a frost or a hot summer. This year, it is the cranberries that are enjoying the wet, warm weather," said Mārtiņš Pauls, project manager at Latgales Cranberries Ltd.
In previous years, the average yield has been around 15 tons, but favourable weather conditions have supported better fruiting this season. Due to the large harvest, the company introduced self-picking for the first time and hired additional workers to speed up the process.
While self-picking is gaining attention, the LAA noted that cranberry cultivation in Latvia continues to develop slowly. The association described the sector as export-oriented, with strong potential, but facing constraints in attracting new producers.
Gundega Sauškina, a member of the LAA board, said, "Latvia's State Forests owns a large number of developed bogs. The lease agreements are for 30 years only. The investment is therefore very high. And people don't want to take the risk, because they have to build roads, they have to have electricity, they have to have irrigation, they have to build reservoirs."
High infrastructure costs, combined with limited long-term land security, are seen as key barriers to expansion.
Latvia's closest competitors in cranberry production are Belarus and Poland. However, Belarus has largely exited the market due to geopolitical and environmental factors, creating potential opportunities for Latvian producers if investment challenges can be addressed.
Source: LSM+
