Some people carry away crops from others' pea fields by the bag
Farmers complain that people not only taste peas from fields but gather them in bags, trampling plants and damaging crops.
In mid-July, when peas are sweetest, pea fields tempt passersby to stop and enjoy. However, farmers say the issue goes beyond a few pods—some people haul away harvests in bags while trampling fields and damaging plants. Andrus Reila, board member of Setra mõis, told the Tartu Postimees that he does not get angry when people stop and taste the crops, but some damage the plants, causing them to lie flat, which later greatly complicates harvesting. Marge Ajoots, board member of Rannu Seeme, said some collect peas by the bag, indicating the harvested crop is being resold. She recalled an elderly woman gathering peas from her field who stated her intention to make pea soup. "I said I would come to her for soup. She did not understand why I wanted to come to her home and eat her food," Ajoots recounted. A pea farmer in Elva parish, who wished to remain anonymous, once caught an entire family gathering peas for several hours. Mehis Puusepp, representative of Rakater, noted that he does not mind when people pick peas from the edge of the field, but no—they are drawn deeper into the field, where the peas are better.
