Though Iceland lays up north in the Atlantic ocean Icelanders have become pretty self-sufficient in regards to growing vegetables. Potatoes and root vegetables have for decades grown in Iceland but with greenhouses and geothermal heat we have managed to grow various types of vegetables. The most common vegetables are potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, red cabbage, various types of salads, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, mushrooms and spices. Some farmers have even started growing berries such as raspberries and strawberries. The vegetables are mostly greenhouse grown though some are open-grown during summertime.
The plant nurseries in Iceland are situated where there is geothermal heat. Most of them are in South Iceland as geothermal heat is most common here. The villages Laugarás, Flúðir and Hveragerði are among the largest ones.
Various opportunities are in production of Icelandic vegetables as the production is still not enough for all the demand and therefore we have to import a lot. The electrical costs are quite high in the greenhouses and therefore many farmers have started using heating rather than lamps in their greenhouses. The Icelandic vegetables is quite organic as unspoiled water is used, clean air and unspoiled soil. Today, consumers want to know the origin of products and that they are free of additives and that its carbon footprint is small. Therefore there are great opportunities in this field.
Forestation and soil reclamation is great in large areas in Iceland. About one third of all forests are situated in South Iceland. Soil reclamation is a lot in the south as it restores the soil fertility and protects the vegetation.
