The Pioneers Mattfolk and Lassfolk

The story begins with a few tomato seeds in a pocket – and a man named Josef Valdemar Mattfolk, born in 1885. After spending six years in America, he returned to Närpes in 1909 with those seeds in his pocket. Seeds that would later lay the foundation for an entirely new industry in the region.

Valdemar’s return to Finland was partly due to family reasons – his brother in Helsinki had fallen ill and passed away. Having studied bridge engineering in America, Valdemar initially planned to return there. However, life took a different turn. He was offered the position of manager at the cooperative store in Finby, and so he stayed in Närpes. He worked there between 1909 and 1918, later continuing as manager in Sideby and Korsnäs.

Yet it is as a greenhouse grower that Mattfolk is remembered. Already in 1910, the year after his return, he began experimenting with growing tomato plants indoors – with successful results. A few years later, in 1916, he built his first greenhouse in Finby. It measured 48 square meters, three walls made of glass and one of wood, and although it was unheated, the harvest was better than expected.

In 1918, he moved the greenhouse to his family farm in Kaldnäs and built a new one for cucumber cultivation. He also sold young plants to other farmers, helping to spread greenhouse farming in the region.

Today, Valdemar Mattfolk is seen as a true pioneer of greenhouse cultivation in Närpes. His initiative, knowledge, and drive laid the foundation for an industry that still flourishes locally – and that has made Närpes known far beyond Finland’s borders.

In addition to Valdemar Mattfolk, the Pjelax brothers Uno and Georg Lassfolk and Georg’s wife Aina are also counted among the pioneers:

Uno studied horticulture and attended the prestigious Billnäs gardening school from 1913–1914.

After graduating, Uno worked in Terijoki on the Karelian Isthmus, tending the summer homes of wealthy Russians. He later secured a prestigious position at the Imperial Gardens of Saint Petersburg, reflecting his considerable skill.

In 1920, Uno returned to Pjelax and became the village’s first professional gardener. Together with his brother Georg, he established a nursery, and in 1926 they built their first greenhouse of about 150 square meters. The glass came from old photography boxes – an example of the early growers' resourcefulness.

Georg Lassfolk continued farming in Pjelax with his wife Aina. They expanded their greenhouses year by year. Though the structures were not very durable, each season brought new opportunities. Georg eventually earned the nickname “Tomato King” of the village – he grew the most tomatoes in Pjelax.

One of the largest greenhouses, a so-called blockhouse, was built in 1929. There was no heating, but the brothers used creative methods, such as walking through the greenhouse with a burning wire basket filled with straw to raise the temperature. Uno and Georg Lassfolk, alongside Valdemar Mattfolk, are true pioneers who inspired generations of growers.

The Development of Greenhouse Cultivation in Närpes

Initially, greenhouse cultivation spread slowly in Närpes. It wasn’t until the 1950s that it truly took off. The first greenhouse growers were typically farmers who viewed it as a secondary source of income. But during the breakthrough years, interest surged, attracting even those without farming backgrounds. Greenhouse farming became somewhat of a trend.

In the early 1960s, metal-framed greenhouses, primarily aluminum, began to be built. They were sturdier and enabled larger constructions, especially when combined with new plastic materials. By the mid-1970s, more plastic greenhouses were built than traditional glass ones. Närpes quickly emerged as a pioneering region, both technically and organizationally. Growers started cooperating in cooperatives and marketing collectively, boosting competitiveness. This paved the way for exports – modest at first, mainly to Sweden, but growing over time.

By the 1980s, Närpes was nationally known for its flavorful, high-quality tomatoes. Growers also cultivated cucumbers, and by the late 1980s, year-round cucumber production became possible. A major shift occurred in the early 1990s with the introduction of bumblebee pollination. Previously, each flower had to be manually vibrated to spread pollen – now nature could take over the task, saving labor and time.

At the turn of the millennium, year-round tomato cultivation expanded further. Interest in specialty tomatoes grew, and more farmers also began to cultivate peppers. Greenhouse farming has also played a crucial role in local integration – many newcomers have found their first jobs in greenhouses, making the sector an important driver of employment and diversity.

Today, Närpes is a leader in sustainable farming, focusing on energy efficiency, biological pest control, and circular systems. From small-scale experiments in the 1950s to today’s high-tech greenhouses, the industry has become the green heart of Närpes.