Strawberry Growers Disappointed by Self-Pickers' Behavior

A strawberry grower from Zemgale, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that self-picking is no longer offered on his farm. The reason – negative experiences with pickers. He described how some visitors behaved poorly: they bit into berries and, finding them unsatisfying, threw them on the ground. When confronted, the pickers responded arrogantly, claiming the grower should be grateful for their visit. As a result, the farm now picks and sells the berries itself, though customers can still purchase produce on site.

The portal Receptes.lv contacted two farms – one small and one large – that still allow strawberry self-picking, asking them to explain the rules that must be followed to avoid being banned. Although the specific rules were not disclosed in the publication, it is clear that growers have established clear guidelines to prevent similar issues.

This situation indicates that an increasing number of farmers are choosing to abandon self-picking services, as they bring more trouble than benefit. One solution is to handle berry picking and direct sales themselves, thereby maintaining control over the harvest and interactions with customers.