Finland’s Berry Harvest Forecasted as Strong, with Regional Variations
Finland’s wild berry season is underway, with forecasts indicating a particularly good yield for blueberries in the south and abundant lingonberries nationwide. However, cloudberry harvests are expected to vary significantly by region, according to the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).
Blueberry Yield Strongest in Southern Finland
Luke reports that the blueberry harvest is set to be especially good in southern Finland, with average or slightly better-than-average yields expected elsewhere in the country. The warm weather in May and June accelerated ripening, and pollination succeeded better than usual in southern and central Finland, extending as far north as Kuopio. Senior researcher Rainer Peltola from Luke notes that while the number of blueberry flowers was typical, favorable conditions led to successful pollination in key areas (Yle).
The main blueberry harvest season has already begun in most of Finland, with ripe berries now available for picking.
Lingonberries Abundant Nationwide
Lingonberry yields are forecasted to be strong across Finland, with flowering conditions described as favorable. Peltola states that the "trusted lingonberry is unlikely to disappoint this year either," as flowering has been abundant (Ilta-Sanomat). However, the full ripening of lingonberries will take several more weeks to assess (Yle).
Cloudberry Harvests Show Local Variation
Unlike blueberries and lingonberries, cloudberry yields are expected to be uneven. While the number of flowers has been typical, poor conditions for pollinators in northern Finland and Lapland—key cloudberry regions—may affect the harvest. Peltola advises pickers to search for cloudberries in forested bogs if open bogs yield little (Yle). Ripe cloudberries have already been found as far north as southern Lapland.
Labor Shortages Impact Berry Industry
The wild berry industry faces challenges beyond natural conditions. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has rejected most visa applications for seasonal pickers, citing suspicions of crimes targeting the sector. This has left Finnish berry companies in a difficult position, as fewer professional pickers are available to harvest the crop (Ilta-Sanomat). Despite this, wild berry picking remains accessible to the public under Finland’s everyman’s rights.