The strawberry season in Latvia is ending, but it has been challenging for growers due to excessive moisture negatively affecting the harvest. Meanwhile, the market is flooded with raspberries and other berries, adding pressure on producers.
A key problem is the lack of labor. Many pickers have moved abroad, and rural youth numbers are declining. Berry picking is physically demanding, requiring workers to bend over for long hours. Farmers involve family and neighbors, but still have to hire foreign workers.
SIA Lubeco, growing strawberries for 14 years, hires migrant workers from India. In spring, there were about 10–15 workers; now, during the harvest, there are 30–40. Lubeco recently switched to growing strawberries in plastic tunnels, reducing labor needs and allowing work in rainy weather.
Mara Rudzate, head of the Latvian Association of Gardeners, confirms that about 95% of berry pickers are migrant workers, mainly from Ukraine and India. Hiring foreigners is costly due to wage requirements and other expenses, while Latvian berry prices remain low due to competition with imports.
The only solution is mechanization and innovation. Unlike Latvia, local products have priority in stores in other countries.
Source: rus.lsm.lv
