Strawberry database can help fight fraud in Estonia

A reference database has been set up to catalog strawberry varieties from Estonia. Hopefully this will help prevent fraud and test whether fruit advertised as locally grown really comes from Estonia. Knowing the geographic origin of strawberries is important as it helps protect the Estonian market and supports farmers and strawberry growers. The database is the result of a three-year project by the Estonian Center for Rural Research and Knowledge (METK), which has mapped the characteristics of Estonian strawberries. Piret van der Sman is deputy head of METK's phytosanitary and microbiological laboratory. He explained the project to Vikerradio: "Strawberries grown in Estonia often cost more than imported varieties because the market is small and they can be grown cheaper in larger countries. However, despite the higher prices, Estonians often prefer to buy domestic products. Vendors sometimes try to sell foreign grown fruit for domestic strawberries and charge higher prices for it. ...