Pea Harvest for Freezing Begins – Harvested Peas Quickly Transported for Freezing
Harvesting peas to be used as raw materials for frozen peas has begun in Southwest Finland. The first peas were harvested on Monday in Varsinais-Suomi, specifically in Mietoisten Mynämäki.
The publicly listed company, Apetit, which manufactures frozen peas in Säkylä, Satakunta, reports that its three pea harvesters will soon be processing all the fields of contract farmers. The harvesters separate the peas in the field, which are then transported to the Apetit factory in Säkylä for freezing.
The contract farms are located a few hours away from the factory to ensure a quick freezing process. This minimizes the quality degradation of the peas. Apetit reports that around 1,800 hectares of land will be used to grow frozen peas this year, an increase of about 1,000 hectares over the past decade.
There are about a hundred contract farmers. The peas are sown according to a precise schedule to also rhythmically control the harvesting, ensuring an appropriate quantity of peas for freezing in each batch.
Apetit also exports frozen peas abroad, including to Italy. Southwest Finland is a significant producer of other vegetables and root crops in addition to peas, with a significant concentration of the food industry in the region.