Solby Gård, outside Eskilstuna, is beautifully nestled in the Sörmland landscape, surrounded by open fields and forests. The popular farm shop and café are open all the year round.
“We want our customers to see the whole chain from producer to dining table,” says Peter Johansson. “What we grow here on the farm is only sold in our farm shop. We have a great love for everything we produce and that should be noticeable when people buy from us.”
“When you come here, you meet a living farm where you can immediately notice the changing seasons,” says Malin Johansson, who runs the farm together with her husband Peter.
What we harvest varies throughout the year. In the summer, the strawberries, with the option to pick your own, are incredibly popular. In the time leading up to Christmas that year’s Christmas trees are beeing harvested.
“The farm shop is open all the year round, and we change all the time according to the season – both the range and the feel in the shop,” says Malin.
Some fifteen different potato varieties are grown on the farm and are of course available to buy in the shop.
“There’s a potato for every occasion, and we help our customers find the right things in the range. It’s always nice when a customer comes back and is extra satisfied after, for example, testing our suggestion on how to cook the best Jansson’s temptation,” says Malin.
Jansson’ temptation – Janssons frestelse in Swedish is a customary Swedish potato dish that is often served at Swedish holidays such as Christmas and Easter.
A popular destination for an excursion with a shop and café
Solby Gård is popular with Eskilstuna’s inhabitants as a destination for excursions. The farm is located about 10 km outside the city, and getting out into the countryside is a relaxing break from everyday life. Here you can stroll around the shop in peace and enjoy a coffee. All bread is homemade in the farm’s own bakery.
The special thing about coming to Solby Gård is the close proximity between producer and consumer. As the producer you can see the joy in the work and the love for the cultivation for yourself and in the personal interaction in the shop.
“Through trial and error we constantly try to find what our customers are looking for. We have been growing strawberries since 2005. The taste is the most important. We want our customers to enjoy juicy, sun-ripe berries straight from the ground. We have several different varieties so everyone can find their favourite. We are now also expanding with raspberries and experimenting with American blueberries and blackberries.”
As well as what we grow at Solby Gård, we sell fruit and vegetables from other small local producers.
“We also sell furnishings and flowers in the shop. We have unique items you may not find in big shops.”
