Smiltene Municipality company “AmberFarm” is nominated for the “Sējējs 2026” award – we invite you to vote!

The family-owned company SIA “AmberFarm”, also known as “Dzintarferma”, located in Variņi Parish, Smiltene Municipality, is one of the participants in the “Organic Farm” category of the “Sējējs 2026” competition. We invite residents and entrepreneurs of Smiltene Municipality, as well as everyone who appreciates “AmberFarm” products and the work of its owners, to support our local business and take part in the public vote. Voting is open until 19 September, and you can vote for your favourite once a day.

The “Sējējs” competition is an annual event organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, aimed at highlighting significant contributions to the development of Latvia’s rural areas and agriculture, showcasing diverse farming opportunities, and honouring enterprising people in Latvia’s countryside.

In Ūdrupe, Variņi Parish, Smiltene Municipality, the family-owned company SIA “AmberFarm”, also known as “Dzintarferma”, has grown from Andrejs Nika’s childhood summers spent at his grandparents’ home into a modern organic farm combining cultivation, processing, sales, and educational tourism.
Certified organic since 2021, the farm grows five different varieties of sea buckthorn across 15 hectares. The berries grown on the farm are used to create more than 40 different products, including juices, syrups, purées, teas, seasonings, candied berries, sweets, and other treats.

For the owners of “AmberFarm”, organic farming means much more than simply growing crops without chemical products – it requires a deep understanding of soil and plants, careful planning, regular monitoring, and a willingness to keep learning.
Nature also sets its own rules when it comes to growing sea buckthorn. Weather conditions, pests, diseases, birds, and wild animals often make it necessary to adjust plans, yet the owners are convinced that organic farming is the path they want to continue following. Choosing five varieties with different ripening times allows the farm to adapt more effectively to nature’s rhythms, while particular attention is paid to improving soil fertility so that the plants grow stronger and yields remain more stable.

Behind every bottle or packet of finished products lies years of work – from soil analysis, field preparation, and planting to crop care, harvesting, and processing. Anyone who has ever picked thorny sea buckthorn berries knows just how much patience this work requires.
The farm also pays particular attention to making full use of the harvested crop. Even the berry skins and seeds left over after juice production become valuable raw materials for oil, powder, granola, “Gulbenes kraukšķi”, and other products. In this way, a whole chain of products is created from a single organically grown berry, increasing the value of local raw materials while reducing processing waste.

“AmberFarm” is proud not only to have successfully grown an organic sea buckthorn crop, but also to have created the entire journey from soil to finished product themselves, with their products reaching customers in Latvia and abroad. Through tours and workshops, the farm gives visitors an opportunity to see this process first-hand and understand how much knowledge, work, and patience lies behind a seemingly simple sea buckthorn berry.
The experience of “AmberFarm” shows that organic farming is not a less demanding form of agriculture – quite the opposite. It is about long-term thinking and a conscious choice to work in harmony with nature, while continuously seeking new ways to add greater value to what is grown in Latvian soil.

 

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Written by: Santa Sinka, Head of the Entrepreneurship and Tourism Department.

Source of information: sejejs.lv