Berry-picking season is nearly upon Iceland and local enthusiasts believe that this will be an especially good harvest year, mbl.is reports.
“I’m fairly optimistic about berry-picking this year,” said self-identified ‘berry enthusiast’ and doctor Sveinn Rúnar Hauksson. “From what I’m hearing from berry lovers around the country, we can expect a good [harvest], although you’re never certain until you’re out picking with your pail, which I expect to be doing in about a week.”
The average temperature in May is particularly important for the summer berry crop, says Sveinn. “We’ve had, broadly speaking, a good summer and spring, unlike last year when we had good temperatures in May and the sun was shining well into August, but it was very dry, which meant that the berry crops weren’t what you’d hope for. This year, there’s been more of a blend of rain and sunshine, which is reason to be optimistic. Particularly here in the west of the country and in the Westfjords, but I think it might be a little later than up north because the snow melted rather late.”
“It’s also been a beautiful summer out east,” continued Sveinn, “where there are many wonderful berry fields. I hear that people expect a good harvest there, too, and the same can be said of the south.”
“All in all, the outlook is good,” he concluded, “but you can never be sure…But there’s reason to start keeping an eye out around you and to have your pail and pickers at the ready.”
