Agriculture, Agriculture | Fruit farmers have increased delivery fivefold: – We have only had good crops

The nation: Since 2014, Rogaland fruit farmers have increased their fruit delivery to wholesalers from 395 tonnes to 1316 tonnes in 2023.

The category that has increased the most is apples and pears for pressing. The first fruit must production started in Rogaland in 2010.

In 2011, there were deliveries of 93 tonnes. Deliveries have now increased to 529 tonnes in 2023.

This is a fivefold increase in deliveries.

Production increases

When it all started in 2011, Anne Vistnes Tønnessen and her family also started dense planting of fruit on Sandalen farm at Randaberg in Rogaland.

They have produced juice here since 2012, and started side production in 2020.

– We have really only had good crops, and not any bad years, Tønessen tells Nationen.

At Sandalen farm, they currently have 5,500 trees. The main part was planted in 2018, with approximately 4,000 new trees.

– Last year we had a crop of 50 tonnes of fruit. We do not have delivery agreements with fruit warehouses, but use all fruit for further distribution and direct sale. We only use our own apples in our products, she says.

Good conditions

Tønessen says that the conditions in Rogaland are good for growing fruit trees. The winter is not as harsh as in many other places in the country.

– We have a longer season, and can grow autumn fruit in mid-November. There is rarely frost on Randaberg, says the fruit farmer.

Furthermore, Tønessen says that the biggest challenge when growing fruit trees in Rogaland is the wind. The strong wind means that you are dependent on having shelter from the wind with slope and .

Bet on fruit

From 2014, priority was given to funding for fruit production from the collaboration between the Rogaland fruit and berry growers association, the municipalities through Ryfylke IKS and the State Administrator in Rogaland (at the time the County Governor).

The parties joined forces to invest in fruit and to increase production in Rogaland.

– We in the fruit and berry growers’ association are of course happy to see these figures. For us, it is important to maintain a good professional environment in the industry so that we are constantly updated and can optimize production.

Leader Siw Lambersøy and deputy leader Anne Norunn Helgøy of the Rogaland fruit and berry growers’ association comment on this to the State Administrator in Rogaland.

This case is taken from Nationen, a cooperative newspaper.