Blueberry Farms See Peak Picking Season Amid Varied Prices

Blueberry farms across Lithuania are currently in the midst of their picking season, with prices for customers choosing to pick their own berries varying significantly. At the "Šilauoga" farm in Bruškiškiai village, Vilnius region, a kilogram costs 7.5 euros, dropping to 7 euros for purchases over 10 kilograms. The owner, Vaidas Valatkevičius, noted that prices might decrease slightly by the season's end but not substantially, attributing the current rate to a lack of nearby competition and proximity to the city.

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They do the work and pick the berries they want.

Valatkevičius, who took over the farm this year, mentioned that while the number of pickers isn't overwhelming, it increases on evenings and weekends. He has welcomed various visitors, including families and bachelorette parties. The farm operates on a principle where visitors pick what they want and sample some on-site, a system Valatkevičius finds agreeable. "They do the work and pick the berries they want," he said.

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I tried hiring pickers and bringing berries to the market, but personally, it works out better when people come themselves.

In Naujasodis village, Prienai district, farmer Erika Maslauskienė also finds the pick-your-own model successful. She stated that hiring pickers or selling at markets was less profitable for her than allowing customers to pick their own. This method ensures customers are satisfied with the quality of berries they select. Maslauskienė's farm charges 4.5 euros per kilogram, which she believes is among the lower prices on the market. She mentioned that some farms charged up to 8 euros, while hers remained lower as she has an abundant crop unaffected by frost.

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People pick the berries they want themselves, and then there are no complaints that a berry was too green or too soft. Whatever they pick, they take with them.

Rūta Davainienė, who grows blueberries in Karčiupis village, Kaišiadorys district, also welcomes visitors daily. However, she has noticed fewer pickers this year compared to last, speculating that people might still be on vacation. Despite fluctuations in daily visitor numbers, Davainienė reported no damage to bushes or spilled berries, appreciating that visitors "do the work for us" by picking the berries they desire. She noted that one family with five children picked between 18 and 22 kilograms of berries.

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People pick themselves what they want and, let's say, do the work for us.