Latvian apple growers expect bigger harvest and lower prices this year
Latvian apple growers anticipate a better harvest than last year, which could push prices down, though labor shortages during harvesting remain a persistent challenge.
Gints Neimanis, chairman of the agricultural cooperative "Zelta ābele," says conditions vary widely among Latvian apple growers this year — some orchards suffered frost damage over winter that killed trees and reduced yields, while others expect a good harvest. Within his own cooperative, Neimanis describes the expected harvest as satisfactory, though he cautions against premature optimism given how unpredictable weather can be.
Early apple varieties are already being picked, while the main harvest, including the "Auksis" variety, is expected in late August and early September. Orchards have had sufficient moisture this year, with only April and May notably drier than last year; July and August brought substantial rainfall that caused no flooding or storm damage.
Larger supply expected to push prices down
Neimanis predicts apple prices will be lower than last year, driven by growers' expectations of a larger harvest and a significant contribution from individual growers to the overall market. The cooperative's bulk sales will begin in September alongside the "Milk and Fruit for Schools" program, though some members are already supplying early-variety apples to stores.
Neimanis notes that finding workers for harvesting grows harder each year, with fewer people interested in the work and more employees quitting once they realize the workload exceeds their expectations. He also observes that the price gap between Latvian and Polish apples has narrowed in recent years, as Polish apples are sold in greater volumes and at lower prices in stores.
Edmunds Grīnbergs, owner of SIA "Pūres dārzi," says harvesting on his farm hasn't started yet and is planned for early September, with a good harvest expected since weather conditions haven't harmed the trees this year. He recalls that last year's weaker harvest drove strong demand for apples, and his company is also struggling to find harvest workers. According to Firmas.lv, Pūres dārzi's turnover last year was 511,085 euros with a profit of 65,173 euros, while Zelta ābele posted a turnover of 817,266 euros and a profit of 3,082 euros in 2025.
