First money – back in childhood
"I started working when I was twelve. In those days, you still needed parental consent, because you could only work legally from the age of fourteen," recalls Rolandas. A couple of years later, his father saw that his son not only wanted to work but also wanted to earn his own money. "My brother and I sifted through about 25 centimeters of soil because there were so many stones. Then I built a greenhouse of almost two ares. I would pick cucumbers from it, take them home, and my father and I would go to trade in Latvia. Back then, there were no borders between countries." Although his parents also grew cucumbers, Rolandas says with a laugh that that first greenhouse was already his own small farm.
When growing vegetables was forbidden
After finishing technical school, Rolandas faced something that is hard to even imagine today. "There was a time when growing vegetables was practically not allowed in our region. Greenhouses were even demolished. My parents moved to grow in Samogitia, and I quietly continued working in the gardens. They checked less there," he remembers. In 1992, the family regained their grandfather's land and started almost from scratch. "We grew everything – cabbage, cauliflower, onions, beets, carrots... There was everything. We did everything with our own hands."
The first tractor changed everything
Although the farm was still registered in his mother's name at the time, Rolandas and his wife were already working at full speed. "I bought my first tractor in 1998. It still stands on our farm today. When the machinery appeared, we realized we could grow. You can't work much land with a horse," the farmer smiles. He officially registered the farm in his own name in 2004, but by then the whole family was already involved in the work. Today, about 10–12 people work on the farm together with family members.
A farm that grows with the family
Currently, Rolandas Andrulis' farm grows about 25 hectares of potatoes, 70 ares of cucumbers, and together with his daughter, they work about 100 hectares of grain – wheat, peas, and other crops. His daughter is also successfully creating her own farm and growing about 40 hectares of potatoes. It is clear that in this farm, the love for the land is passed down from generation to generation.
Why are Rolandas' cucumbers so fragrant?
One of the most interesting things we learned during our stay is that the cucumbers here are grown in natural peat, not mineral wool. "That's why they have a real smell and taste," emphasizes Rolandas. He also reveals a secret that many buyers don't know. "The most delicious cucumber is the one just picked. Three days after picking, its taste is no longer the same." Therefore, it is extremely important for the farmer that the produce reaches the buyer as quickly as possible. For this very reason, cooperation with ŪkisGo allows cucumbers and potatoes to be prepared only after receiving an order, so the freshest produce reaches the buyers.
What the buyer doesn't see
When asked what is the most difficult part of a farmer's work, Rolandas doesn't hesitate for a moment. "People don't see how many plants die, how much produce has to be thrown away, how many years you search for the best solutions before you manage to grow a truly high-quality harvest." According to him, that is why quality can never be sacrificed for higher profit. "My farm's credo is quality. I have always believed that you should reach the consumer not with quantity, but with quality." Perhaps that is why his farm is not the largest, but every product is grown responsibly.
What poses the most challenges today?
Almost everything has changed in nearly forty years. Technologies have modernized rapidly, new machinery has appeared, but one problem has remained. "It is increasingly difficult to find people who want to work in agriculture." Another uncertainty is the Lithuanian weather. Too much rain can ruin the harvest, and drought also poses quite a few challenges, as not all fields can be irrigated.
The first harvest – the greatest reward
When asked what moment brings the farmer the most joy, Rolandas doesn't think long. "After all the routine, after so much work, the greatest reward is the first harvest." And although there is no shortage of work here, the day starts very early. "The alarm clock rings at 4:40 every morning. It's very hot in the greenhouses in the summer, so we start working even before sunrise."
A farm where the person is the most important
At the end of our stay, Rolandas, like a true host, treated us to the cucumbers he had grown and gave us some pickled cucumbers to taste. Such sincerity perfectly reflects the whole farm – here, not only the harvest is important, but also the person. We are glad that Lithuanian potatoes, fresh cucumbers, and pickled cucumbers grown on Rolandas Andrulis' farm can be purchased directly from the farmer through the ŪkisGo platform. This way, the produce reaches the buyers as quickly as possible – fresh, high-quality, and grown with responsibility. Thanks to Rolandas for the warm welcome, open conversation, and the opportunity to see up close how much work lies behind every Lithuanian cucumber and potato. We wish you a bountiful harvest, favorable weather, and many more successful seasons!