Latvian campaign plants more than 1,300 fruit trees

A campaign bringing communities together to plant fruit trees has planted more than 1,300 trees and berry bushes across Latvia in five years, LSM reported. This week, participants planted trees at six locations near Skrunda.

At the Valtaiķi care unit, which is part of Kuldīga Hospital, volunteers gathered in the garden. They included young guards, Mazpulks members, schoolchildren, representatives of the National Soldiers’ Association and a team from the non-governmental organisation Reāls piedzīvojums.

New apple, pear and plum trees, as well as rowan trees, were planted in the existing orchard. Gunita Bivbāne, who manages the Valtaiķi and Skrunda care units, said produce grown there helps supplement residents’ meals. Residents and staff pick fruit, and the care unit also makes apple juice.

This is the campaign’s fifth season. The idea arose during the pandemic, after a symbolic tree-planting scene for the future was filmed at Grosa Nursery. The nursery continues to support the initiative with plants it has grown itself.

Nursery owner Iveta Grosa said the family business, which has operated for more than 35 years, often has plants left over because the market is unpredictable. The nursery’s slogan is: “One plant each year for health.”

Campaign organiser Sandijs Krastiņš said the initiative aims to teach people that apples grow in orchards, not on shop shelves. Participants plant, care for and water the trees together, then harvest and share the fruit.

The campaign has visited more than 50 locations, mostly at schools, kindergartens, care homes, crisis centres and children’s homes.