Today, the fruit industry on Gotland is small. But there are good conditions for growing, for example, apples. At the same time, the demand for local Swedish fruit and products such as juice and cider is increasing. Against this background, interest in fruit has come to life seriously among a growing number of growers, food artisans, and other actors on the island.
This has the non-profit association Sörmland apples met with education and feasibility studies on Gotland. Now the association and local businesses are moving forward with a larger development project – ”Cultivation and processing of fruit on Gotland” with funding from Leader Gute. Through skills development, exchanges of experience, and collaboration, the vision is to create a viable commercial fruit industry on the island. Something that can both strengthen Gotland's self-sufficiency and crisis preparedness, and make Gotland even more attractive as a tourist destination and food destination.
Gotlandsfrukt – the third generation continues to invest
One company involved in the project is Gotland fruit Käbbe Farm in Eksta – today the island's only dedicated commercial fruit and berry company. Here, cultivation has existed since the 1950s, and now the third generation is continuing to invest.
Jonas Kebbe shows the apple juice that is sold, among other things, in the own farm shop. Here together with his son Dexter, who could become the fourth generation of fruit growers in the company!
– I see the new project as an interesting opportunity for skills development and networking – both for our company and for all the new ones who now want to invest in the fruit industry with great enthusiasm, says Jonas Kebbe who runs Gotlandsfrukt with cultivation and Käbbe Farm Cidery.
Sales take place in the own farm shop, but to the greatest extent via wholesalers to stores and restaurants. Here, Jonas particularly wants to highlight Keges, who ”are passionate about Gotlandic products.”.
Gotlandsfrukt currently has about seven hectares of cultivation. – With more actors, we might be able to develop new products and put Gotland on the map regarding fruit. Together with the island's breweries, for example, fine cider varieties could be produced, believes Jonas Kebbe.
Halvfede Musteri – expands with apple cultivation
In 2024, Halvfede Cidery in Dalhem was taken over by Maria and Matz Bengtsson. The operation was moved to När and the farm where Maria grew up. Currently, the Bengtsson couple is engaged in the cider mill part-time – Maria is an osteopath and Matz runs Gumbalde Resort.
But now they are increasing their investment by complementing the cider mill with their own apple cultivation.
Here, down towards the sea at the farm in När, Maria and her husband Matz will plant about 2,500 apple trees as a complement to Halvfede's cider mill. The trees are to be in place next year and eventually produce about 30 tons of apples per season.
The plan is for Maria and Matz to gradually transition to living entirely on the farm in När and devote more and more to apple activities. Here, participation in the new fruit project is important to gain more knowledge and create networks.
– We dream big and hurry slowly. We want to age with the apple cultivation, says Maria.
Today, Halvfede primarily produces juice from apples and pears that is sold through wholesalers. The plan moving forward is new products and a farm shop. Perhaps also collaboration with other actors in food and drink on the island. Already last year, Halvfede developed a whisky and apple mulled wine in collaboration with Bräntings Bränneri in Bunge.
The Apple Farm focuses on table fruit
Anna Börjesson and Hannes Mattsson Gufors runs together The Apple Farm in Väte.
– I am a gardener and Hannes is an arborist. We are jointly investing in apple cultivation on our farms. In 2024, we planted a total of about 1,300 trees, says Anna.
The operation is focused solely on the cultivation of apples primarily as table fruit. This year will see the first harvest and planning and dialogue for selling the fruit through various channels is underway.
Anna Börjesson at The Apple Farm hopes that the new project will attract more people to want to invest in the fruit industry on the island. – We can inspire each other. And hopefully, we can jointly purchase equipment and find common solutions for, e.g., logistics, says Anna.
– The new fruit project is very important. Those of us involved have different backgrounds and knowledge and can learn both through workshops and study visits within the project and from each other, says Anna.
– Hannes and I think that apple cultivation is a fun side activity, and I truly believe that more can see the fruit industry as a complement to other businesses.