Gotländsk grönsaksodling : utvecklings- och tillväxtmöjligheter

Sammanfattning: A diet based on a bigger part of locally produced vegetables can contribute to decreasing environmental impact and improved health. In Gotland horticulture has increased more than in Sweden in total during the last 15 years. To investigate possibilities for development of Gotland´s horticulture, the cultivation of potato, vegetables, fruits and berries was mapped through a questionnaire among growers. Interviews and a workshop with growers and reseller were conducted to investigate the interest and prerequisites for growing new crops. In total approximately 2340 hectares of potato, vegetables, fruits and berries were grown in Gotland in 2012. The four most commonly grown crops were potato, carrot, parsnip, and beetroot, which together stood for 88 per cent of the total area in this study. There is a widespread interest for new vegetables among both growers and resellers who came up with many suggestions for future crops. For example there is an increasing demand for baby leaf salad, beans, bundles of early root vegetables, shoots and sprouts, asparagus, tomato and herbs. There is also a demand for more onion, carrot, cauliflower, broccoli and lettuce. Both growers and resellers saw a lack of communication between them. To communicate what the consumers demand, growers and resellers should try to find more ways to communicate. Selling products locally e.g. through a farm shop gives the growers a possibility to get feedback on their products, which can be used to find the right quality and to get new ideas. To succeed with new crops both the right cultivation conditions and a customer base are required. Starting with a small trial cultivation is a good way to learn how to grow them. When a new crop I grown in bigger scale it is good to have an economical buffer. The growers signal that there is a lack of advisory for horticulturists in Gotland. To be able to compete with growers in other parts of Sweden and abroad advisory in horticulture should be started up on the island. Advisory on both economy and cultivation techniques is needed. Economic calculations for more vegetables would facilitate for growers who want to grow new crops.