Blueberry Growers Explain Why Prices Are Higher This Year
Latvian blueberry growers say this year's higher prices stem from winter frost damage to bushes, which in some farms cut yields by as much as 80%, while other farms saw no significant drop.
Blueberry buyers in Latvia will need to pay more this year compared to previous seasons, and growers say the reason lies in the cold winter months that damaged the berry bushes.
Growers surveyed by the LETA news agency reported that winter frost caused significant damage to plantings in many locations. As a result, some farms could see this year's harvest fall by as much as 80% compared to what was originally planned.
Situation varies between farms
However, the impact has not been uniform everywhere. According to the growers, some farms managed to maintain yields at the same level as last year, suggesting that frost damage varied considerably from one farm and region to another.
Growers point to these reduced harvests on affected farms as the main factor behind the rise in blueberry prices on the market this year compared to previous years.
