In a scenically beautiful location around Lake Usma, the farm Bukmeķi is managed by Eduards Ostrobrods. When the family purchased the property, two walnuts were planted only as a decorative plant. They are now remarkable trees from which the first harvest can be taken.
“I want more nuts in Latvia. I want to sell the seedlings, there's a plan to start selling the harvest here in two years,” the owner outlined the plans for the future.
“There are people who don't want to do it themselves, but want to get plantations, then we can connect – cultivate land, plant, water and help, for example, survey once a month, but a person has already acquired a ready tree plantation in five years.”
At present, walnuts are planted on his farm in an area of more than 5 hectares (ha) could gradually increase to 10 ha. He believes that in Latvia, plantations may become pension capital for owners of rural land.
“Like with children - the first two or three years have to work intensively with them, but then grow themselves,” Eduards said.
He said a large tree could produce 40 kilograms (kg) of walnuts a year. On the market, walnuts cost around €7 per kilogram.
"Suppose wholesale it is €5 per kilogram. Then, if you have 100 trees, the turnover can already reach about €20,000. Minus expense - about half because you have to water and process. The profit is then €10,000 per hectare. For someone who has their land, it will be a second pension,” Eduards said.
According to the grower, the walnut grown in Latvia will be particularly good and delicious and nutritious because it has been able to hibernate and produce fruit. He takes varieties suitable for our climatic conditions, for example, from Moldova.
"There is a very advanced scientific activity in Moldova. They breed a lot (..) It expands the field of vision. Everything cannot be brought because Moldova is not in the European Union, but there is a production that is registered in the European Union and gives a certificate," Eduards explained.
The fact that walnuts grow in Latvian conditions is already known from manor days, Eduards said. The trees have also been planted by neighbor Jānis:
"30 seedlings are currently planted. We'll see how the plant grows, some grow well, others not so well. We need to look at what varieties are better suited to Latvia, and learn. There was one meadow I didn't really need for anything else, I thought why not plant the nuts, I don't know, I'm not as optimistic as Edouard, who lays plans for the future. I also tell friends it's such a hobby and a fascination, let's see what it will be in five years."
