Food is expensive in Finland. Fresh fruits and vegetables are particularly pricey. Combine high prices with the fact that Finns are green and that might be why many opt to grow gardens.
The Finnish growing season for vegetables is short due to their Nordic location. However, with days being extremely long (20+ hours) and full of light, flavors become condensed.
My finn-laws have a large garden where they grow potatoes, carrots, peas, cucumbers, rhubarb, black and red currants, gooseberries, and strawberries.
My mother-in-law stores the fruits and veggies in a cellar to extend the life. She freezes some of the fruit and makes homemade juices and jams.
This year we’re expanding our garden. We rented a plot of land at a local farm and will attempt to grow more vegetables and fruit.
My goal is to have a freezer full of homegrown food, like my mother-in-law.