As Patriot Week approaches, the crop grown by the children and youth of “Latvijas Mazpulki”, this time parsnips, is already available in “Maxima” stores across Latvia. Every customer of the store has the opportunity to support determined Latvian children and young people by purchasing this high quality local product. “Maxima Latvija” supported “Latvijas Mazpulkus” for the twelfth year, providing practical information on the basics of the business – how a product moves from field to sale.
This fall, nearly 9 tons of parsnips, loved by small groups and grown all summer, were delivered to the largest “Maxima Latvija” shops. To support young farmers, all funds raised will go directly to young entrepreneurs. 50 young farmers from 19 small flocks from Latvia participated in parsnip cultivation, representing the counties of Līvāna, Krāslava, Rēzekne, Ludza, Jēkabpils, Ķekava, Saulkrasta, Alūksnes, Valkas, Tukums, Talsa and Saldus.
The biggest harvest this year was for the 279th small Livani group, where 3600 kg of parsnips were collected from the field. The 196th Beja herd was also very productive, growing 1,160 kg of vegetables, and the small Seja herd, growing 1,000 kg of parsnips. The 36th herd of Viesita and the 541st herd of Zakynthos are also productive: their yield in each of the small herds reached about 600 kg.
“The delivery of small-scale crops to Maxima stores is a special event. For the 12th year, we are happy to support young and determined young people and offer our customers their cultivated vegetables. This year, Latvijas Mazpulki has chosen to grow parsnip, an unknown but very healthy vegetable and widely used for everyday meals. Especially popular dishes among Latvians, such as soups and purees. We invite everyone to add parsnips to traditional holiday meals during Patriot Week, thus discovering new flavors and at the same time supporting young Latvian entrepreneurs. It must be said that vegetables selected from small groups will be available to almost everyone this year, as they will be offered in all “Maxima” stores in Latvia, “he says. Laura Bagātā, corporate communication project manager of “Maxima Latvija”.
“The little flocks did a great job growing an impressive stingray crop. Today parsnip is an unjustifiably forgotten, sweet and juicy root vegetable. Parsnip can be eaten fresh, added to soups or stews, vegetable curd in a juicer, baked or pureed. We say a big thank you to “Maxima Latvija” for the opportunity to offer small batch breeds
parsnips in all “Maxima” stores, so that everyone in Latvia has the opportunity to bring this delicious and precious root to the table “, says Laura Kļaviņa, “Ezerkauliņi” marketing project manager.
“As part of this project, young people learn work skills and learn the first entrepreneurial skills, they have to grow parsnips from the package of seeds received, then they have to be collected, sorted and packaged so that they can be sold in stores. For some small groups , this is their first business project, while others already have experience in projects from previous years. Despite the different experiences of children and young people, every year there are both weather challenges and learning about a new crop. We are proud of crops grown by small groups and the support of families of small groups “, affirm the associations. Gundega Jēkabsone, chairman of the board of “Latvijas Mazpulki”..
The price of parsnips grown in small bunches is 0.69 euros per kilogram and can be bought in all “Maxima” stores in Latvia. The parsnips were delivered to the shops with the help of the cooperative “Baltijas Dārzeni”, which is a long-term supporter of the project.
SIA “Maxima Latvia”
