The strict coronary restrictions mean that Norwegian strawberry farmers have, as a general rule, had to resort to Norwegian labor to pick strawberries.
But inexperienced Norwegian strawberry pickers are less efficient than the more experienced foreign seasonal workers. This means that they spend more time picking the berries, and thus the strawberry farmers have to increase the prices.
Strawberry farmer Arnstein Pollestad – who is one of the largest strawberry producers in Eastern Norway – says to Dagsavisen that he must increase the price by five kroner per basket. Pollestad is located at Diling in Moss.
The consequence may thus be more expensive strawberries in stores this year.
– It depends on which chains are willing to take Norwegian efficiency into account, he says.
The wholesaler Bama confirms that they expect a certain price increase at all levels, but that it is too early to say anything about how big it will be.
Pollestad reckons that the first Norwegian strawberries will be picked the first weekend in June.
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