ABOUT THE ISLAND
Hitra is located in Trøndelag County, at the outlet of the Trondheim Fjord. Hitra is the 7t largest island in Norway and the largest south of Vesterålen. Hitra is connected to the mainland via an underwater tunnel.
January 1, 2020 represents a historic event. Hitra’s municipal boundaries in the south were moved and the municipality became larger. A small part of mainland Norway, the northern parts of Snillfjord, became part of the island municipality of Hitra. This applies to Kongensvoll and Vingvågen, Valslag and Vågan, Sunde and Hemnskjela.
Administration Center: Fillan
Area: approx. 920 km2
Highest point: 526 masl – Blåfjellet at Vingan
Largest lake: Laugen at Kvenvær
County roads: 251 km
Municipal roads: 60 km
The island is surrounded by more than 3200 islands, islets and reefs and the island has around 7000 lakes.
Hitra is connected to the neighboring island of Frøya via underwater tunnel. It takes 30 minutes to drive from one municipal center to the other.
Of these, more than 25% have immigrant backgrounds (labor immigration in relation to aquaculture).
More than 70 nationalities are represented.
On the neighboring island of Frøya there is also a population of about 5 200, including many with immigrant backgrounds.
ABOUT THE MAIN INDUSTRIES
The aquaculture industry and its suppliers.
Boat manufacturers and shipyards.
Construction, contractor, property development.
Tourism, activities, experiences.
Trade and personal service.
Production of local food and drink.
(There is very low unemployment in the municipality, and we always need more workers. See www.boihitra.no for information about living in Hitra.) Unfortunately only in Norwegian.
ABOUT THE VISITORS
More than 2000 holiday houses and cabins.
Hitra and Frøya is the most popular holiday destination on the coast of Trøndelag.
ABOUT THE LOCAL PRODUCE
Nationally and internationally known for first class quality.
“Tastes from the Island” is a corporate collaboration of local food producers from Hitra and Frøya with roots in agriculture, the seafood industry and the production of beverages. The network consists of enthusiastic and cooperative companies who share expertise and experience, and who complement each other in several ways. The companies each have well-established production of their own brands, and overall long and broad experience.”
Read more about the companies, products, company visits and sales on the network’s website:
www.smakerfraoeyriket.no/en/taste-from-the-island-kingdom/
OUR THREE BIG ONES: SALMON, CRAB AND DEER
THE SALMON The cradle of salmon farming.
Once upon a time, there were two brothers who had a good idea. They were the first in the world to take up Atlantic salmon farming just off the coast of Hitra. In 1971, brothers Ove and Sivert Grøntvedt placed 20 000 salmon smolts in what would become the first salmon farm in the world. 50 years later, Frøya and Hitra are the world’s largest sites for salmon farming. Today, this island region produces 260 000 tons of salmon per year. Salmar, Mowi and Lerøy are among the world’s largest, most lucrative and innovative companies in the field of salmon farming and manufacturing and sustainable development.
The Coastal Museum arranges trips to fish farms, see www.kystmuseet.no for more information.
THE CRAB Europe’s most modern crab factory.
The origins of HitraMat AS can be traced back to Ansnes, an old trade center where fish and other goods have been sold since the 18th century. Square-sailed boats with salted fish, dried fish and stockfish left Ansnes and returned with goods that the coast people lacked. Sivert Fjeldvær arrived here in 1905. This man from Fjellværøya island ran a fish reception center and a fish store. Later, Anton Fjeldvær began to buy crabs, cook them and sell them to buyers from Trondheim. Here, all food was hand made. «Hitramat on all plates» was his slogan. Since the early 1990s, the tasty edible crab from the Trøndelag coast has become the company’s key product. In 2002, the company moved to a new location at Hitra Fiskerihavn. This is currently Europe’s most modern edible crab factory.
For delicious crab recipes go to krabbe.no. (Text only in Norwegian, unfortunately.)
DEER (AND OLD NORSE SHEEP) The densest deer population in Northern Europe.
Hitra has the densest deer population in Northern Europe. Between 500 and 1000 deer are harvested each year. In addition, the Dalpro company invests in deer and Old Norse sheep farming. Dalpro Gårdsmat use their own livestock for their food production and wild deer and Old Norse sheep purchased in the region. The meat comes from Frøya and Hitra and is made on the premises of the local nature. Old Norse sheep and deer graze on heath, herbs, grass, juniper, leaves and seaweed all year long. The life in the free, the climate and the vegetation of the islands bring a unique taste of wild nature.
TO BUY LOCAL PRODUCE: DALPRO GÅRDSBUTIKK, Hammerstaddalen
Locally sourced coastal food from both the green and blue fields.
Products from the producer network Flavors from the archipelago can
be found here.
Opening hours for shop/café:
Wednesday-Saturday 10-15, Friday 10-18
Opening hours summer 2023 week 27-32:
Monday-Saturday 10-15, Friday 10-18
Summer activities:
During the shop’s opening hours it is possible to buy pet food to hand feed the animals.
The deer are fed every day at 11 a.m. and can be fed by you in the same way as the other animals.
Explore the adventure trail that stretches from the farm all the way down to the shoreline
(suitable also for the small children).
Bring a packed lunch or buy something good at the café in the farm shop.
Follow Dalpro Gårdsbutikk on Facebook for updated information
HITRA SALMON, Hammerstaddalen
Fish shop with self-produced smoked salmon, cured salmon, pepper salmon etc. Some days white
fish and homemade fish food are also available. Stop by and see what they’ve got.
Opening hours:
Monday-Friday 9-16
Saturday 10-16
Outside of these hours: call +47 90 86 36 99 or +47 96 67 76 12
Follow Hitra Salmon on Facebook for updated information.
