Latvia’s apple sector is built around a large number of relatively small commercial orchards rather than a handful of huge companies. That makes the strongest individual growers easy to overlook.
Five apple producers stand out for orchard scale, current production evidence, supermarket links or specialist growing capability: Pienjāņi, Mucenieki, Pūres Dārzi, Eglāji and Jaunbrēmeles.
Pienjāņi has the largest clearly documented individual organic apple orchard in this group at nearly 40 hectares. Mucenieki operates 12.5 hectares of apple plantations and is a long-established commercial horticulture farm. Pūres Dārzi has direct supermarket relationships including Rimi and Elvi. Eglāji operates around 10 hectares with roughly 30 apple varieties. Jaunbrēmeles grows about 9,000 trees on seven hectares and sells most of its crop through Latvia’s School Fruit programme.
: Latvia supports a genuine Top 5 apple-producer article, but not a credible Top 10 from currently verifiable commercial data. Pienjāņi is the largest clearly documented orchard in this comparison. Mucenieki and Pūres Dārzi have strong commercial fruit operations, while Eglāji and Jaunbrēmeles add meaningful specialist apple production.
Top apple producers in Latvia
| Producer | Location | Apple scale | Main strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pienjāņi | Skaistkalne, Bauska region | Nearly 40 ha organic apple orchard | Largest documented organic apple orchard in Latvia |
| Mucenieki | Jaunlutriņi, Saldus region | 12.5 ha apple plantations | Commercial fruit growing since 1994 |
| Pūres Dārzi | Pūre, Tukums region | Commercial apple and mixed-fruit production | Direct supply to Rimi, Elvi, Stockmann and schools |
| Eglāji | Zemgale | About 10 ha and 30 apple varieties | Large variety range |
| Jaunbrēmeles | Latvia | 7 ha, about 9,000 trees | Around 70 tonnes per season; strong school supply |
Why Latvia’s apple sector deserves its own ranking
Latvia already has a broader fresh produce company ranking. Apples are a separate commercial category with their own varieties, orchard economics, storage requirements and retail programmes.
The national sector is also much deeper than five farms.
Latvia’s Central Statistical Bureau recorded around 3,191 hectares of commercial apple orchards in its 2017 orchard survey, up by roughly one third from 2012.
The sector contained about 1.4 million commercial apple trees.
That survey is not a current 2026 production figure, but it remains one of the clearest official structural snapshots of the national orchard base.
The important point is that Latvian apple production is fragmented.
Hundreds of farms can contribute to the market. A single grower does not need hundreds of hectares to be commercially relevant.
How we selected the five producers
We did not rank farms simply because they sell apples at a farm shop.
Each producer needed several of the following:
- documented commercial orchard scale;
- current apple production;
- supermarket, school or organised-market supply;
- storage, packing or processing capability;
- a long commercial fruit-growing history;
- reliable public information.
We also avoided double counting grower cooperatives and their members where that would artificially inflate the ranking.
The result is five individual farms or businesses with clear apple-production evidence.
1. Pienjāņi
Pienjāņi has the largest clearly documented apple orchard in this ranking.
The farm was established in 2009 with the aim of developing an orchard and exploring cider apple production.
It has since grown into a substantial organic fruit operation.
Orchard size
Pienjāņi operates an apple orchard of nearly 40 hectares.
Current Latvian rural-tourism and producer information describes it as the largest organic apple orchard in Latvia.
That scale is significant in a national market where many orchards are much smaller.
Location
The farm is in Skaistkalne parish in the Bauska region.
This places it in southern Latvia, close to the Lithuanian border.
Apple varieties
Pienjāņi grows varieties including:
- Monta;
- Dace;
- Auksis;
- Gita;
- Edīte;
- other Latvian dessert and cider varieties.
The orchard also contains specialist apples selected for cider production.
Fresh apples and cider
The business sells fresh apples as well as apple juice and cider under the Jēpis brand.
This gives the farm several outlets for its harvest.
That is commercially useful because not every apple meets supermarket cosmetic standards.
Fruit with the wrong size, shape or surface appearance can still have value in juice or cider.
Organic certification
Pienjāņi is organically certified.
Organic apple growing can be difficult because growers need to manage:
- apple scab;
- pests;
- weed competition;
- fruit quality;
- yield;
- storage.
The certification therefore represents a distinct production model rather than simply a marketing label.
Research links
The farm collaborates with horticultural institutions including the Pūre Horticultural Research Station and the Dobele horticultural institute.
This is useful because Latvia’s climate creates very specific variety and winter-hardiness requirements.
Revenue, employees and valuation
Pienjāņi does not publish current annual revenue, employee totals or an independent farm valuation on the public sources reviewed.
GTN therefore does not estimate those figures.
Market share
No audited percentage share of Latvia’s apple market is publicly available.
The farm’s nearly 40 hectares nevertheless make it one of the most substantial individual apple operations that can be verified publicly.
Why Pienjāņi matters to buyers
Its biggest differentiator is organic scale.
A supermarket or specialist retailer looking for Latvian organic apples needs suppliers that can deliver meaningful volumes, not only small farm-shop quantities.
Pienjāņi has a stronger base for that type of programme than most small orchards.
2. Mucenieki
Mucenieki is a long-established commercial horticulture farm in Jaunlutriņi parish.
The farm was founded in 1994.
Apple orchard scale
Current business information puts its apple plantations at around 12.5 hectares.
The farm also grows:
- blackcurrants;
- redcurrants;
- gooseberries;
- sea buckthorn;
- strawberries;
- other fruit and berry crops.
Commercial specialisation
Mucenieki describes its core activity as commercial horticulture.
This is important.
The orchard is not simply part of a tourism or hobby operation. Fruit growing, plant production and processing are central to the farm.
Apple varieties and nursery work
Mucenieki also grows apple-tree planting material for commercial orchards.
The nursery works with newer Latvian varieties and tests their suitability for local conditions.
Examples highlighted by the farm include:
- Felicita;
- Laila;
- Lora;
- Inta.
This gives the business a role in both fruit production and future orchard development.
Integrated production
The farm says it uses integrated growing methods.
This means plant-protection products are controlled and reduced where possible rather than following a completely conventional high-input model.
Fresh and processed outlets
Mucenieki sells fresh fruit and also processes produce into:
- apple juice;
- fruit and berry juices;
- nectars;
- syrups;
- other farm products.
Again, processing creates a second market for apples that do not fit fresh-retail specifications.
Cooperative membership
The farm is a member of the Zelta Ābele cooperative.
Grower cooperatives can improve access to larger customers by combining:
- volume;
- storage;
- marketing;
- packing;
- sales.
Employees, revenue and valuation
Current audited turnover, staff numbers and farm valuation are not published on the primary farm site.
We therefore do not estimate them.
Market share
No national market-share percentage is available.
Why Mucenieki matters
The farm combines more than three decades of horticulture with a meaningful apple acreage and its own nursery knowledge.
That creates a stronger technical base than a farm focused only on seasonal apple sales.
3. Pūres Dārzi
Pūres Dārzi is one of the most commercially connected fruit businesses in this ranking.
The company produces apples, pears, plums and a broad range of berries from its base in Pūre.
Fresh produce range
Pūres Dārzi grows:
- apples;
- pears;
- plums;
- strawberries;
- raspberries;
- blackcurrants;
- aronia;
- quince;
- redcurrants;
- gooseberries.
Apples are one of its core commercial products.
Supermarket customers
The company publicly lists major trading partners including:
- Rimi Latvia;
- Elvi Latvia;
- Stockmann;
- Skai Baltija;
- Mego;
- other Latvian retailers.
This is some of the strongest direct supermarket evidence among the farms in this ranking.
Rimi apple supply
Rimi has historically identified Pūres Dārzi as one of its suppliers of Latvian-grown apples.
That relationship shows the company has experience with national supermarket specifications, packing and delivery.
School Fruit programme
Pūres Dārzi also supplies apples to schools under Latvia’s School Milk and Fruit programme where contracts are in place.
Institutional supply has different requirements from ordinary farm-gate selling.
It needs:
- scheduled delivery;
- consistent fruit;
- documentation;
- defined pack sizes;
- reliable volumes.
Nursery operations
The company also runs a certified nursery for fruit trees and berry plants.
This creates another technical link between commercial production and orchard development.
Head office
Pūres Dārzi is based in Pūre in Tukums municipality.
Pūre is one of Latvia’s best-known horticultural regions.
Revenue and employees
The company’s public pages do not provide a current audited annual revenue or current employee count.
GTN therefore leaves those figures as not publicly disclosed.
Valuation and market share
Pūres Dārzi is privately held and has no public market capitalisation.
No verified national apple-market share is available.
Why Pūres Dārzi matters
The strongest evidence is route to market.
A producer can grow excellent apples and still struggle with national retail if it cannot manage packing, delivery and customer requirements.
Pūres Dārzi has established relationships with several major Latvian grocery operators.
That makes it highly relevant to the country’s supermarket supply chain.
4. Eglāji
Eglāji is a specialist Latvian apple farm with one of the more diverse documented orchard collections in the country.
Orchard size
The farm operates around 10 hectares of apple orchards.
This puts it close to Mucenieki by orchard size and well above many small farm operations.
Variety diversity
Eglāji grows around 30 types of apples.
Variety diversity can be commercially useful because different apples have different:
- harvest dates;
- flavour;
- firmness;
- storage life;
- colour;
- consumer uses.
A wide range allows the farm to spread harvest and sales across a longer period.
Location
The orchard is in Zemgale on hilly land with views towards the Gulf of Riga.
The geography is also part of the farm’s visitor appeal, but commercial apple growing remains a central activity.
Fresh sales
Apples are sold directly and are available for tasting and farm purchase during the season.
The public sources reviewed do not show the same national supermarket relationships as Pūres Dārzi.
GTN therefore does not claim them.
Revenue, employees and valuation
Eglāji does not publish current revenue, employee numbers or farm valuation.
Market share
No national market-share figure is available.
Why Eglāji matters
The farm’s 10-hectare orchard and 30-variety range demonstrate the depth of Latvia’s commercial apple-growing base beyond the country’s biggest named suppliers.
For specialist retailers and local sourcing programmes, variety diversity can be a useful differentiator.
5. Jaunbrēmeles
Jaunbrēmeles is a smaller but well-documented commercial apple farm.
Current 2026 reporting gives a clear view of its orchard and sales model.
Orchard scale
The farm grows around 9,000 apple trees on seven hectares.
It produces 34 varieties.
This is a very broad range for a relatively compact orchard.
Annual production
The farm sells around 70 tonnes of apples in an average season.
Production varies with weather.
Latvia’s 2026 crop was expected to be stronger overall than the previous year, although winter frost affected some farms unevenly.
School supply
About 80% of Jaunbrēmeles’ crop goes to schools, including through the School Fruit programme.
The remainder is sold through shops and directly from the farm.
This gives the business a clear organised-market route rather than relying only on seasonal farm-gate customers.
Variety strategy
Different ripening dates allow the harvest to be spread out.
This matters because collecting 34 varieties at the same time would create a labour and storage problem.
A staggered orchard can spread:
- picking;
- packing;
- sales;
- storage needs.
Revenue and employees
Current annual turnover and employee totals are not publicly disclosed in the sources reviewed.
Valuation and market share
No public valuation or national market-share percentage is available.
Why Jaunbrēmeles matters
It shows how a seven-hectare Latvian orchard can still operate as a structured commercial supplier.
National school programmes can provide significant demand for domestic fruit while supporting local growers.
How Latvia’s five apple producers compare
| Producer | Main strength | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Pienjāņi | Organic scale | Organic fresh apples and processing |
| Mucenieki | Commercial horticulture and nursery knowledge | Fresh apples, processing and cooperative supply |
| Pūres Dārzi | Supermarket relationships | National retail and school programmes |
| Eglāji | 30-variety orchard | Specialist and local fresh supply |
| Jaunbrēmeles | 34 varieties and school sales | Institutional and local retail supply |
Which apple varieties are important in Latvia?
Latvia’s climate favours varieties that can cope with cold winters and relatively short growing seasons.
Official orchard data has historically shown important varieties including:
- Auksis;
- Antonovka;
- Antej;
- Belorusskoje Maļinovoje;
- Sinap Orlovskij;
- Kovaļenkovskoje;
- Rubin;
- Baltais Dzidrais;
- Ligol;
- Tiina.
New Latvian breeding also continues to add varieties selected for local conditions.
Why Auksis matters
Auksis has been one of Latvia’s most important commercial apple varieties.
Official historical orchard data showed it as the most common variety by tree number.
It is valued for flavour and suitability to Baltic conditions.
However, growers still need to manage storage and harvest timing carefully.
Why winter hardiness matters
Apple trees remain in the orchard for many years.
A variety that performs well in southern Europe may suffer severe winter damage in Latvia.
Growers therefore consider:
- winter hardiness;
- frost timing;
- disease resistance;
- harvest date;
- storage performance.
This is why Latvian nurseries and research institutes play an important role in variety selection.
What should supermarkets check when sourcing Latvian apples?
Local origin is not enough on its own.
- Variety: confirm the exact cultivar.
- Size: define the diameter or weight specification.
- Firmness: especially important for stored fruit.
- Colour: agree visual standards.
- Defects: define tolerance for scab, bruising and skin marks.
- Residues: retailer requirements can be stricter than legal limits.
- Storage: understand how long fruit has been stored.
- Pack format: loose, bagged or tray packed.
- Weekly volume: confirm availability through the sales season.
- Traceability: link each lot back to the orchard.
Why storage is central to apple economics
Apples have one major advantage over many fresh fruits: they can be stored.
Good storage allows growers to sell beyond harvest rather than pushing the whole crop onto the market in a few weeks.
Commercial storage can help preserve:
- firmness;
- acidity;
- colour;
- weight;
- market value.
The stronger the storage system, the more likely a Latvian grower can compete with imported apples later in the season.
Why Latvia still imports apples
Domestic production does not cover every variety, price point and week of the year.
Retailers import apples because of:
- seasonality;
- price;
- specific international varieties;
- promotional volume;
- storage gaps;
- cosmetic specifications.
Latvian growers therefore compete with major European production countries as well as Southern Hemisphere suppliers.
Can local apples compete with imports?
Yes, particularly during and after the local harvest.
Latvian media reported stronger 2026 crop expectations and hopes that more domestic fruit would reach supermarket shelves.
Local apples can offer:
- shorter transport;
- regional varieties;
- strong origin story;
- fresher harvest timing.
The challenge is consistency.
Large supermarkets need agreed volumes and specifications every week.
How do cooperatives help?
Grower cooperatives can combine the crops of several farms.
This helps smaller orchards offer:
- larger volumes;
- wider variety ranges;
- more storage;
- joint marketing;
- central sales.
Mucenieki’s membership of Zelta Ābele is one example of this model.
Cooperatives can be especially important in Latvia because the national orchard base is fragmented.
What role do schools play in apple demand?
Latvia’s School Fruit programme provides an organised outlet for local apples.
Pūres Dārzi and Jaunbrēmeles both have clear links to school supply.
For growers, institutional programmes can provide:
- planned volume;
- repeat demand;
- support for local production;
- a market for appropriately sized apples.
For schools, they increase children’s access to fresh fruit.
How does apple packaging affect quality?
Apples are firmer than berries, but they still bruise.
Packaging needs to manage:
- movement;
- stacking;
- ventilation;
- weight;
- retail presentation.
Latvia’s packaging companies support domestic food and fresh-produce businesses with boxes, films, labels and transport packaging.
Organic versus integrated apple production
Pienjāņi operates organically.
Mucenieki describes its production as integrated.
These approaches are different.
Organic production follows regulated organic rules.
Integrated production can still use authorised crop-protection products but aims to reduce and carefully manage them.
Supermarket buyers should check the exact certification or production claim rather than assuming “reduced chemicals” means organic.
Which Latvian apple producer is the largest?
Pienjāņi has the largest clearly documented individual orchard in this comparison at nearly 40 hectares.
That does not prove it is the largest apple producer by annual tonnage because directly comparable current tonnage is not published for all farms.
Which farm supplies major supermarkets?
Pūres Dārzi lists Rimi Latvia, Elvi Latvia, Stockmann, Skai Baltija and Mego among its major trading partners.
Which farm has the most apple varieties?
Jaunbrēmeles reports 34 varieties on seven hectares.
Eglāji reports around 30 varieties on approximately 10 hectares.
Which producer has the largest organic orchard?
Pienjāņi is described as having Latvia’s largest organic apple orchard, covering nearly 40 hectares.
How much does Jaunbrēmeles produce?
The farm sells around 70 tonnes of apples in an average season.
About 80% goes to schools.
What is changing in Latvia’s apple market?
Four themes matter.
1. Local-sourcing demand
Retailers and consumers continue to value Latvian-grown food.
2. Better orchard varieties
Research and breeding are improving winter hardiness, disease resistance and fruit quality.
3. More organised sales
Cooperatives and institutional programmes help smaller farms reach larger customers.
4. Climate volatility
Winter frost, spring weather and storms can create very different yields from one orchard to another.
This makes multiple grower relationships useful for supermarket buyers.
Frequently asked questions
Does Latvia grow apples commercially?
Yes. Latvia has thousands of hectares of commercial apple orchards and a large number of individual growers.
What is Latvia’s biggest organic apple orchard?
Pienjāņi is described as having the country’s largest organic apple orchard, at nearly 40 hectares.
Which Latvian farm supplies Rimi with apples?
Pūres Dārzi has a documented relationship with Rimi Latvia and has supplied Latvian-grown apples to the retailer.
What apple varieties are popular in Latvia?
Important varieties include Auksis, Antonovka, Antej, Ligol, Sinap Orlovskij and several Latvian-bred cultivars.
How big is Mucenieki’s apple orchard?
Current business information describes about 12.5 hectares of apple plantations.
How big is Eglāji’s orchard?
Eglāji has around 10 hectares of apple orchards and about 30 varieties.
How many apple trees does Jaunbrēmeles grow?
The farm has around 9,000 apple trees on seven hectares.
Does Latvia import apples?
Yes. Imports supplement local production, especially outside the domestic season and for varieties not grown at sufficient scale locally.
Are Latvian apples sold to schools?
Yes. The School Fruit programme is an important organised market for several domestic apple growers.
Can Latvian apples be organic?
Yes. Pienjāņi is a major example of commercial organic apple production in Latvia.
Editor’s Note: Orchard figures were checked against current farm, official and industry sources.
