First Wild Chanterelles and Strawberries Appear at Riga Market

The Central Market in Riga is buzzing with the arrival of early summer produce, with the first wild chanterelle mushrooms appearing and fetching a premium price of 25 euros per basket. These sought-after fungi signal the start of the foraging season for many.

Alongside the mushrooms, locally grown Latvian strawberries are abundant. Sellers are engaged in competitive pricing, with various varieties available for 7 and 9 euros. The market also features wild strawberries, with reports from social media indicating their presence among the offerings.

Across the border, Lithuania is also seeing wild strawberries, with prices around 20-25 euros per basket. However, vendors note a growing difficulty in sourcing these wild berries, attributing the decline to ongoing deforestation. This contrasts with last year, when chanterelles were priced at 30 euros per kilogram and strawberries were plentiful due to favorable weather.

The article also notes that the past week saw significant rainfall across Latvia, with some areas already meeting or exceeding their monthly precipitation norms by mid-June. Rain is expected to continue this week, potentially impacting outdoor activities and market availability.