However, it is a tumultuous time here in Sweden. A time of rainy weather:
A time of counterfeit strawberries:
Agency steps up efforts to unmask strawberry cheats
Published: 3 Jun 09 17:57 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/19856/20090603/
Swedish agriculture authorities are going hi-tech to crack down on the sale of imported strawberries which have been falsely marked as being home grown.
In addition to increased inspections, the Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) also plans on utilizing isotope analysis to expose suspected cases of strawberry fraud.
In recent years, there have been an increasing number of reports in the Swedish press about imported strawberries being packaged and sold as authentic Swedish strawberries.
While the Board of Agriculture has never come across a confirmed case of the alleged strawberry fraud, the agency is taking no chances in its efforts to protect Swedish consumers.
The agriculture board announced on Tuesday it plans to dispatch more than 20 inspectors tasked with taking a closer look at the strawberries lining the shelves in stores, street markets, and roadside stands all across the country.
After inspecting the berries’ packaging and invoices, inspectors then call up growers to confirm that appropriate prices are being charged.
Suspicious strawberries are confiscated, then sent to a lab in Germany which in turn performs an isotope analysis to determine the origins of the berries by cross-referencing them with samples of guaranteed Swedish strawberries.
“Customers are faithful in their purchases and buy Swedish. The consumer has the right to make an informed choice,” said Susanne Görsberg from the Agriculture Board’s trade and marketing division, to the TT news agency.
Also working in the agency’s favour this year, according Waldemar Ibron, an inspector based in Helsingborg in western Sweden, is the drop in the price difference between Swedish strawberries and imported strawberries.
According to Ibron, there is less of an incentive than in years past for merchants to deliberately mislabel strawberries because there is less to gain by passing off imported berries as Swedish.
TT/David Landes
And a time of snaps shortages:
Strike could threaten Midsummer schnapps
Published: 15 Jun 09 13:30 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/20076/20090615/
An unofficial strike at a Systembolaget (Swedish alcohol retail monopoly) warehouse south of Stockholm is currently underway, possibly threatening the supply of Sweden's favourite holiday beverage.
“We might run out of certain products,” Lennart Agén, information officer at Systembolaget, told TT.
The strike is not sanctioned by the Union of Commercial Employees (Handels), but the LO labour organization is sympathetic.
“It is extremely provocative that the company gave 33 employees notice right in the middle of ongoing local negotiations. But Handels operates according to the accepted union protocol, that is to say we follow the existing negotiation regulations,” wrote Tommy Tillgren, Handels' deputy chairman, in a statement.
The strike is being held at the Lagena warehouse, a subsidiary of Systembolaget. According to Agén, Lagena has been running at a loss, after losing Pernod Ricard as a major customer following the Vin & Sprit purchase. Lagena consequently needed to reduce the number of permanent staff and bring in temporary employees when necessary.
The strike could, if it continues for several days, mean that certain products from Systembolaget might run out.
“At present, it's difficult to say what the consequences might be,” Agén said.
TT/The Local
Time will only tell if Sven Grinchsson will come and ruin our perfect traditional midsommar. Stay tuned dear readers for the chilling conclusion to “The Grinchsson That Stole Midsummer?” which will hit the world wide web whenever I damn well feel like it.
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