Apetit seeks new pea farmers to meet growing demand in Säkylä, Finland

Finnish frozen peas are subject to strict quality standards. The Säkylä-based company Apetit aims to process freshly harvested peas into frozen products within two hours. The company is constantly seeking new pea farmers, but one requirement is that the fields must be located within a hundred kilometers of the Säkylä freezing plant. Gunta Cirule, Apetit’s cultivation manager, explains that any longer distance could compromise the quality of the peas. The two-hour timeframe ensures that the peas retain their flavor and vibrant green color, resulting in the best possible quality.

Currently, Apetit has around 120 contracted pea farmers, cultivating approximately 1,800 hectares dedicated to pea production—about 200 hectares more than last year. The yield can vary annually; Apetit froze about five million kilograms of peas last year. Additional farmers are needed partly because the crop rotation for peas is lengthy, allowing cultivation on the same land only once every five years. Consequently, new locations and fields are essential, and there is potential to increase the area devoted to pea farming, Cirule states.

For farmers, peas are a crop that does not require significant investment in harvesting and storage, as Apetit’s team manages the harvest. However, there can be issues where weather conditions and tight schedules prevent the harvest of some contracted peas. Such instances are rare, according to Cirule, who assures that farmers receive fair compensation.

Finnish peas are also exported, but the quantity depends on domestic demand. There is substantial international interest in Finnish peas due to their exceptional quality, particularly in countries like Italy. Cirule attributes the high quality to Finland’s midnight sun, which allows peas to mature slowly, preserving their sweetness and texture. However, she notes that Finns have yet to fully embrace peas at their dining tables, unlike their Nordic neighbors.