Åkerkvinnene wins the Rural Development Award in Vestfold and Telemark

In just a few years, the six start-ups have made remarkable progress, showing how networks and collaboration make each business stronger. Their joint promotion has strengthened both the group and each individual business, while the visibility of Åkerkvinnene creates opportunities that extend far beyond their individual ventures. The six businesses are dotted along the route from Helgeroa to Stavern, like 'beads on a string'.

In different ways, Åkerkvinnene has created visitor destinations across the village of Brunlanes and Larvik municipality. Åkerkvinnene comprises Lillavendel, run by Guro Rimstad; Skjærgårdshagen, run by Camilla Anvik; Kryssgaarden, run by Astrid Bjørnson; Ingunns hage, run by Ingunn Anvik; Grønn glede, run by Sølvi Anvik; and Søndre Grevle, run by Marthe Hillestad. Their products include soaps and creams, organic cut flowers, free-range pork, vegetables, fruit, berries, eucalyptus and evergreens. They also run several farm shops with cafés and food service, and offer services such as garden events, locations for television productions, and garden and interior design projects.

'We showcase traditions and continue to develop our businesses in ways that present Norwegian agriculture and horticulture in a positive light. We have also shown that our unity is a strength. Joint marketing and our focus on social media have enabled us to reach a wide audience,' says Camilla Anvik on behalf of the award winners.

'This award means a great deal to us, and it will help create new opportunities and wider benefits that extend beyond us,' she says.

Åkerkvinnene was established following an initiative by Larvik Municipality and Colab Larvik to develop local agriculture in 2019. Since then, the group has become a visible and important part of the local community, both for Larvik residents and visitors. Our Regional Director for Vestfold and Telemark, Anniken Fægri Damm-Larsen, praises the collaboration between the women:

- Åkerkvinnene are a great example of what collaboration and networks can mean for local businesses. Six different businesses with different backgrounds and circumstances have recognised the considerable value of working together on promotion and marketing, making Åkerkvinnene a worthy winner of the 2023 Rural Development Award for Vestfold and Telemark.

The award winners score particularly highly on social and environmental sustainability, which played an important role in selecting this year's winner. Together, they actively use the network in their marketing to promote Norwegian food production, sensory experiences and local products.

By working together, they reach customers across Norway despite being relatively small businesses, and have built relationships in a range of markets where customers are willing to pay. They have also created important meeting places for local people and visitors to Brulandneset. The Åkerkvinnene organise events together and make extensive use of each other's goods and services. They employ women and young people in particular and have created jobs for many more people than themselves.

The Åkerkvinnene network excels at sharing knowledge and strengthening the reputation of agriculture and sustainable Norwegian food production through quality products and sensory experiences. Above all, Åkerkvinnene shows that innovation in agriculture creates exciting opportunities and delivers strong results.