Ranholvi’s owner, Raija Laaksonen has loved nature and wandering in the forests since she was a little girl. Her love for nature is embodied in the brand formed by her initials, RL – Rakkaudesta luontoon (from love for nature). In addition to the RL brand, Raijanholvi features the Geonalle (Geobear) concept, which promotes overall well-being and positivity through positive psychology for both children and adults.
Laaksonen has studied to become a chef and restaurant manager and has undergone various training programs. Most recently, she trained as an expert in positive psychology and as a mental coach. She has had a long career working in restaurants and has been an entrepreneur for 20 years. Raija purchased the old bank in 2015, which was then renovated into a café-restaurant, leading to the creation of Raijanholvi.
In addition to café and restaurant services, Raijanholvi offers a wide variety of locally made products, from meringues to jewelry. Laaksonen has been actively involved in the development of the LH Geopark area for a long time, and applying for the GEOfood label for the new giant cabbage pockets was a natural step forward.
“One day, I was frying cabbage, onions, and carrots in a pan. As I stirred them, I was transported back to my childhood. The scent brought back memories of summers spent weeding the vegetable garden.”
In that moment, the idea of an old-fashioned cabbage pie with a new twist was born in Raija’s mind. Raija Laaksonen is the entrepreneur of Raijanholvi. The dough and filling use grains, milk, eggs and vegetables which are mainly produced in the Lauhanvuori – Hämeenkangas Geopark area. The spices include homegrown oregano and lovage, as well as local honey.
Cabbage has been cultivated in Finland since the 1500s. The climate of the North is well- suited for growing cabbage, as they are frost-resistant and require moisture in the highlands of Suomenselkä drainage divide, there is more rainfall compared to the lower coastal areas or Lake Finland.
Carrots, onions, and cabbages thrive in the Geopark area’s fertile sandy and silty soils, formed by the Ice Age and washed by glacial meltwaters, on the spacious and sunny southern slopes of river and lake valleys. The bright summer nights of the North produce aromatic vegetables and give grains their best flavor. The area’s expansive pine forests are particularly favorable for lingonberry growth.