Farmers in Southern Sweden cash in on Finnish appetite for new potatoes
As much as half of early potato crop in Skåne sent to Finland
"Without Finland, it would be chaos here", says Swedish potato farmer Staffan Karlsson on the edge of his field.
Not many Finns are aware of the impact that the nation is having on the Bjäre Peninsula in the Skåne region in the southern tip of Sweden.
The first early potatoes from Sweden arrived in Finnish stores mainly from here, and as much as half of the new potatoes in the region are sold to Finland.
"Between 60 and 70 per cent of Sweden's early potatoes are grown here, and exports to Finland are hugely important", says another farmer, Stefan Olsson.
A feverish potato harvest is under way in the Bjäre region. The approximately 250 potato farmers in the area all seem to be in their fields, following tractors, picking stones out from among the potatoes, and loading the tubers into sales boxes.
The quality of Swedish potatoes has come under criticism from Finland's Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners.
To test things out, Helsingin Sanomat brought along Finnish "Timo" potatoes, and Swedish potatoes bought at Helsinki's market square to Skåne for evaluation.
"This must be Swift", says Stefan Olsson, as he examines the Swedish potato. Swift is a fast-growing strain. The first potatoes that come to Finland are usually Swifts.
"Swift has had a somewhat poor reputation in Sweden. It is said to be a bit watery. The taste might suffer from the fast growth, but with the right irrigation and the right methods, it is quite good", Olsson says.
He tastes the Swifts, and the Timo potatoes in turn, each with a piece of pickled herring.
"I think that the Swedish potato has more taste. But the taste of the Finnish potato is somehow softer. Both have their advantages. It looks like this is a draw", Olsson says, diplomatically.
"Myself I have grown very little Timo, and all of it has been sold to Finland."
The Finnish appetite for early potatoes is a blessing for small farmers in Skåne.
"The Finns are on the move much earlier", Olsson says, criticising the lethargy of Sweden's own central retail chains.
"I get the feeling that [the Swedish retail giant] ICA first wants to sell off the old potatoes it has in stock."
The price of new potatoes is going down rapidly in Skåne, where the spring came exceptionally early this year.
"The first export consignment of potatoes was delivered on April the 29th! We have seen nothing like this before", says farmer Bertil Gunnarsson.
He says that the reason why potatoes from Skåne have achieved such a strong foothold in Finland is the competitiveness of the region.
"We have the sea on three sides, which gives us an early spring. The soil is good, and there is enough ground water for irrigation. We can get up to 20 tonnes per hectare, and sometimes more."
The Bjäre Peninsula is one of the most scenic parts of Sweden. The landscape is more like Northern Germany than the Nordic region. The local farmers will soon be a minority in the area when Sweden's richest people arrive for the summer.
Of Sweden's ten richest people only [Ikea owner] Ingvar Kamprad does not live down here for the summer season.
In addition to its potato fields, the peninsula has no fewer than 20 golf courses.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 5.6.2007 - TODAY |
 Farmers in Southern Sweden cash in on Finnish appetite for new potatoes |
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