Estonia’s cold and rainy summer has impacted strawberry growers, causing a delayed picking season. Traditionally ripe by June, this year’s yield reached optimal picking conditions in mid-July. According to local sellers, Estonia’s market remains stocked, with prices around €6.90 per kilo, with expectations for increases coming in August.

Tiina Urm of Tontoli berry farm highlighted the inevitable price surge. “On the contrary, they’re going to go up, because the new batch for this year will start coming in next week, and after that, the prices will go up anyway,” Urm stated. Similarly, Ekaterina, another strawberry seller, supported this claim, noting the typical price increase to €10-14 per kilo by August.

She said, “The prices are usually €10 to €14 a kilo in August already, so they will definitely go up. Now is the right time to pick them, though after Midsummer is usually the right time. This year everything is later, so now is the time to pick, if people want good, beautiful strawberries, now is the time.”

Anna-Liisa Ingver, managing Tartu Market, remarked on adjusted sales timelines, stating, “There are some who have started later. It’s been quite difficult. If you look at this year, it was exactly a month later that the Estonian strawberries were ready compared to last year.” She emphasized that pre-signed contracts required flexibility from growers under challenging conditions.

Despite the weather challenges, the market sustains its framework, though sales commenced later than usual.

Source: News ERR