ABOUT THE ISLAND
Hitra is located in Trøndelag County, at the outlet of the Trondheim Fjord. Hitra is the largest island in Norway south of Lofoten.
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 by a subsea 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 (nationalities with fewer than 4 inhabitants are not included in the table below).
On the neighboring island of Frøya there is also a population of about 5 000, including many with immigrant backgrounds.
ABOUT THE MAIN INDUSTRIES
The main industries:
The aquaculture industry and its suppliers.
Construction, installation, contractors.
Travel, activities, experiences.
Trade.
There is very low unemployment in the municipality.
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.
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. Almost 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. 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. «Hitra food on all the 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, hip 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 island bring a unique taste of wild nature.
NB! FARM SHOP and opportunity for close contact with the animals, see www.dalpro.no for more information (and DalPro Gårdsmat on Facebook).
THE HITRA HONEY
A thin slice of ginger, a slice of lime, a mug of warm water, a good teaspoon of HitraHonning = a very good start to the day! You can buy HitraHonning at Dalpro Farm Shop.
CHEESE
Tasty cheeses from happy animals. The farmers at Hitra Gårdsmat at Helgebostad are passionate about animal welfare. They make a huge effort to keep the animals well. They are proud of their profession and a good role model for others by showing that it is possible to build a very good livestock environment with the help of simple solutions and their own efforts. Their cheeses are top-awarded both regionally, nationally and internationally.
HELGEBOSTAD HAGEBRUK, a small horticulture with rich content, is practically next door to Hitra Gårdsmat.
You can visit the farmers at Helgebostadøya and / or you can buy their products at Dalpro Gårdsbutikk.
