Harvest season gets under way across southern Iceland

Harvest work is beginning on farms in southern Iceland after a productive summer, mbl.is reports. At Böðmóðsstaðir farm in Laugardalur, within Bláskógabyggð municipality, Styrmir Snær Jónsson has planted 3.5 hectares of carrots and expects to harvest about 100 tonnes.

“The weather in August was especially good, with the right balance of temperature and rainfall, so I expect the harvest to be good,” Styrmir said.

Powerful machinery is being used to harvest the carrots, easing the work, but additional labour is still needed. Upper-secondary students from Laugarvatn sometimes come to the farm after school to take on temporary work. People from nearby farms also help when they can.

“This is always an enjoyable time and there is plenty to do. It is also good that the market is receiving the harvest well. I sell the carrots to Banana and Innnes, which then distribute them to shops,” Styrmir said. He also grows potatoes, but the outlook for that crop is poorer after frost damaged the plants, leaving the harvest smaller than expected.

“The weather here in the countryside is exceptional, and it is enjoyable to work outdoors in the fields under clear skies and in complete calm,” he said.

Potato harvest begins in full

Andri Þór Erlingsson and Hulda Kristjánsdóttir at Forsæti are the only farmers in Flói growing potatoes on a significant scale. They took over the potato operation from Hulda’s parents, Anna Guðbergsdóttir and Kristján Gestsson, in 2024.

They harvested potatoes in small batches throughout August, but with September now under way, the work is beginning in earnest. The potato fields at Forsæti cover about 20 hectares on sandy soil along the banks of the Þjórsá river.

“The harvest could be close to what would be considered a decent average year. The first part of the summer was rather cold, and it did not begin to warm significantly until well into the season. Then there was a strong growth spurt,” Andri Þór said.

Potato farming has been carried out at Forsæti for decades. More farmers in the lowland districts used to grow potatoes, but farming methods and circumstances have changed.

“Gullauga and red Icelandic potatoes are the varieties that generally perform best and sell well. We have also been testing the Milva and Solist varieties in recent years, and they have performed well,” Andri Þór said.

The harvest is sent to market through the Association of Horticultural Farmers. The farm also makes some direct sales, including to people from Selfoss who travel to the countryside to buy potatoes.