Back in 1996, after Jeppe Robertsson took over the livestock farm started by his parents, the first stage of greenhouses were built. Since then, Gummagårdens has grown to a production of 1700 tonnes of cucumbers each year, adding up to roughly five million cucumbers, across 23,400m2.
Gummagårdens has pretty much year round production. Sown in December, the cucumbers are harvested from mid-February through November. During the colder months, the greenhouses are heated through a biomass system.
"We grow the cucumber plants in pumice stone instead of cultivation beds. Due to the fact that the pumice can be reused up to 10 seasons, this decision saves both resources and the environment. This is also a reason why we use biological control by using insects which are natural enemies of cucumber pests, along with having a closed water irrigation system."
Sweden Rock Festival
Once a year, at the beginning of June, Gummagårdens Gurkodling finds themselves virtually in the middle of an annual rock festival called Sweden Rock Festival. Linda shared that they supplied strawberries to the festival last year.
"Many festival visitors end up stopping by in our farm shop to check us out. Many who like rock also like good food. In the farm shop you will find all the vegetables, fruit and berries of the season, along with flowers and items for the home." says Linda Lövberg.
The next generation
Although cucumbers are the main product, they also grow strawberries in tunnels, potatoes, cereals and sugar beets grown on 140 hectares, along with offering organic red and white cabbage, wax beans and onions across 4 hectares. Only two years in, Linda says that growing organically has been a learning process, but that it has been going very well.
The company's most recent venture has been chili peppers, grown by the couple's 11 year old son.
"Last year when our son said that he wanted more pocket money, we told him that he needs to work for it, so last year he started growing two rows of chili peppers in one of the greenhouses. It's been a great opportunity for him to learn and become more involved in the business." said Linda.
