Publication of an application for registration of a name pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

(2023/C 194/10)

This publication confers the right to oppose the application pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) within three months from the date of this publication.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘Suonenjoen mansikka’

EU No: PGI-FI-02841 – 2.5.2022

PDO ( ) PGI (X)

1.   Name(s) [of PDO or PGI]

‘Suonenjoen mansikka’

2.   Member State or Third Country

Finland

3.   Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Type of product

Class 1.6 – Fruit, vegetables and cereals fresh or processed

3.2.   Description of the product to which the name in (1) applies

The name ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ is used for garden strawberries (Fragaria X ananassa) grown in North Savo, Suonenjoki and its neighbouring municipalities.

The ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ is completely red, juicy, and velvety soft in the mouth. The strawberry must be sweet and aromatic.

The ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ has a minimum size of 18 mm. The strawberry stem and calyx must be fresh and green. When picking, the strawberries must have an even colour. The strawberries may be eaten fresh, as uncooked berries. The strawberries must have a sugar content of at least 8 Brix. The strawberries’ sweetness varies depending on the variety and growing conditions.

The ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ is sold as a fresh berry, frozen, deep-frozen or used for processing. When sold fresh, the ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ must meet at least Class I requirements. Frozen, deep-frozen or used for processing ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ may be Class II.

The ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ must be delivered fresh for sale no later than the day following the day of picking.

3.3.   Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

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3.4.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

The ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ is grown and picked in the defined geographical area.

3.5.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

The fresh strawberries are also packaged in the defined geographical area in order to safeguard quality and guarantee the origin. Strawberries may be frozen or deep frozen outside the defined geographical area.

3.6.   Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

The ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ must always be sold packaged when sold fresh, frozen or deep-frozen. It may not be sold loose.

Farmers producing strawberries in Suonenjoki are entitled to use the ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ logo. The logo is freely available for all producers complying with the product specification.

Figure 1

‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ logo

4.   Concise definition of the geographical area

The ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ is produced in North Savo in the Sisä-Savo area: in the municipalities of Suonenjoki, Tervo, Rautalampi and Vesanto (regions according to the 2021 municipal borders) and in the western part of Kuopio in the territory of the former municipality of Karttula (region according to the 2010 municipal borders).

5.   Link with the geographical area

The geographical indication for the ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ is based on the reputation of the strawberries produced in the Suonenjoki region.

Suonenjoki has a long-standing tradition of strawberry cultivation. In 2016, there were celebrations in Suonenjoki to mark the 100th anniversary of the ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’. Over the centenary ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ has become an established term in Finnish culinary culture. It is sold all over Finland and Suonenjoki is specifically known for its strawberries. Commercial strawberry cultivation in Finland originated in the Suonenjoki region.

The town’s streets features the strawberry in many forms. In the centre of Suonenjoki, there is a statue of girls gathering strawberries – the 1981 Mansikkatytöt statue by sculptor Raimo Heino.

In summer, the town of Suonenjoki makes it easier to buy the strawberries by hiring strawberry sellers to sell them on the national train network (Valtion Rautatiet – VR). Strawberries are sold on trains for three weeks after the main crop has ripened. The ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ is the only berry that is sold on trains. This tradition, which began in 1995, means that passengers now look forward to the sale of these strawberries every year. Suonenjoki’s train station platform is decorated with strawberries.

The Suonenjoki Strawberry Carnival, which has been held in honour of the strawberry in Suonenjoki since 1970, takes place on the second weekend of July. It is one of Finland’s longest-running summer events. Originally a strawberry harvest celebration, it has now grown into an event with some twenty thousand visitors. The carnival is traditionally launched with a carnival procession, featuring representatives of entrepreneurs and organisations from the region.

Every year the carnival chooses a Strawberry Girl, who participates in the PR work for the town and companies during their year as the title-holder. A Strawberry Host and/or Strawberry Hostess for the year is also elected every year at the event. The Strawberry Host or Hostess is a person who is closely associated with strawberry growing and who has promoted the ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’. The carnival also has other strawberry-related programmes such as a strawberry eating competition and a strawberry cake decoration competition.

A book on the ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ – Mansikalla maineeseen (‘Strawberry Stardom’) – was published to mark the strawberry’s 100th anniversary celebrations in 2016. The frozen-berry producer Pakkasmarja Oy has also produced a video about the local strawberry cultivation entitled ‘Suonenjoen punainen timantti’, i.e. ‘Suonenjoki’s red diamond’.

The crop, which originated from a few strawberry seedlings, has evolved over decades, and nowadays strawberry fields form an integral part of the area’s landscape. Suonenjoki and its surrounding municipalities (Sisä-Savo) are home to the northernmost concentration of strawberry cultivation in the world. Suonenjoki is also home to the Marjaosaamiskeskus centre for berry expertise and projects to promote the know-how of berry growers in the Suonenjoki region in strawberry cultivation. The farmers in the region have also had their own Suonenjoki Region Berry Farmers’ Association (Suonenjoen seudun marjanviljelijäin yhdistys ry – SSMY) since 1966. Strawberries are also mentioned in the Suonenjoki municipal strategy for 2018 to 2025. The town’s vision is to be a ‘strawberry town known for its bold development’.

The long, light summer nights and the hilly, permeable, moraine ground typical of the area create good growing conditions for strawberry cultivation and give the strawberries their characteristic aroma and sweetness. The ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’ is grown in the open or in a defined growing medium in the open, in polytunnels or in greenhouses. The Sisä-Savo region produces about one fifth of the entire Finnish strawberry harvest every year. This is due to the large number of farms and the above-average yield in the area.

The years of experience have led to the cultivation of sweet, aromatic and palatable species. However, several different varieties of strawberry are grown under the name ‘Suonenjoen mansikka’. The name is area-specific rather than variety-specific. Nowadays Polka, Rumba and Sonata are the most cultivated varieties and main crops in the region. There are also many other varieties cultivated from early to late, so the harvest period in the open usually lasts from June to September. Over the years, the farmers’ strawberry growing expertise has been significant in producing a high-quality product.

Reference to publication of the specification

https://www.ruokavirasto.fi/globalassets/yritykset/elintarvikeala/valmistus/elintarvikkeista-annettavat-tiedot/eun-nimisuojajarjestelma/suonenjoen-mansikka-hakemus-final-021221.pdf?visitorgroupsByID=undefined

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(1)  OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.