Project aims at reestablishing vegetable production in Norway’s Arctic

In Troms County, a project aiming to (re-)establish Arctic vegetable production resulted in 170 tons of locally produced vegetables in 2016.

In 2014, a three-year project commenced in Troms County, Norway, according to Fylkesnytt fra Troms. Focusing on competence, networking and investing in vegetable production machines, young farmers were invited to start producing Arctic vegetables as a supplement to their regular farming activities – or as the main product at their farm.

In 2016, 11 local farmers produced a total of 170 tons of vegetables, based on three different products. Rutabaga constitutes more than half the volume produced, according to Fylkesnytt fra Troms.

Turnip and carrots constitute the other two vegetables included in the project. A local turnip called the ‘Målselv turnip’ has a history stretching back more than 150 years, to the time of the Pomor trade between Norwegian and Russian tradesmen in the 18th and 19th centuries. The current turnip production is based on seeds that have been deliberately preserved and produced for more than 100 years.

The project is initiated and organized by three producer organisations; OTTAR, Tromspotet and Art Nor.