Why berry picking matters to Finland 

Finnish forests and peatlands produce huge amounts of wild berries every year. It has been

estimated that during a poor crop year the biological yield of wild berries is nearly 500 million kg

and during an abundant crop year it reaches over 1000 mill kg.

There are 37 edible wild berry species in Finland. The economically most significant and most

popular of them are lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and

cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus). In an average crop year, these three berry species constitute

more than 60% of the total yield of wild berries.

Berry picking by Finnish households

Wild berries have huge cultural value in Finland. A recent study confirms that almost 60 % of Finns participate annually in berry picking. One reason for the popularity of berry picking is the right of public access to forests. Finland employs the concept of "everyone's right". This principle allows everyone, regardless of land ownership, to freely collect many natural products, such as wild berries and mushrooms. 

This right is deeply ingrained in Finnish culture, promoting a close relationship with nature and fostering a sense of shared responsibility and respect for the environment. It embodies the idea that nature's bounty, particularly renewable resources like berries, is a communal asset available to all.

Berry picking in Finland has transitioned from being a subsistence necessity to a recreational and culinary activity. While historically vital for survival, it's now enjoyed for leisure, health benefits, and cooking. Additionally, in rural areas, berry picking remains an important source of tax-free income for many residents, contributing to local economies.

Results from a national survey indicate that Finnish households collected an average of 41.2 million kg of wild berries per year, in 2011-2013. Of this amount, about three-quarters were picked for own use while the rest was meant for sale. In 2011-2013, only 2% of the households participated annually in commercial berry picking.

Berry Picking by Foreign Groups

During the last 15 years or so, a large part of the commercial wild berry harvest for berry processing enterprises has been collected by foreign pickers following an earlier trend in Sweden. One reason for the phenomenon of seasonal migrant pickers is difficulties in finding enough domestic commercial harvesters: pickers who earlier used to collect large amounts of berries for sale have aged and younger generations are not so interested in berry picking. 

Also, out-migration over the past decades has depopulated the countryside and today most people live in cities, far away from the best berry sites. Finally, low berry prices do not make commercial picking a very attractive way to earn money.

Foreign pickers previously came in the late nineties mainly from the Baltic states, Russia and Ukraine. More recently, an increasing number have come from Thailand. The first 90 Thai berry pickers came to Finland in 2005, at the invitation of one berry company. Since then, their number has increased very fast. In recent years, the number of Thai berry pickers has been between two and four thousand. Every year, berry pickers from other countries also work in Finnish forests, but the majority of the seasonal foreign berry pickers come from Thailand.

According to MARSI statistics, an average of 85 % of the wild berries bought by organized trade have been collected by foreign pickers during the last ten years. However, organized trade does not include all commercially picked berry amounts as it contains only berries bought by berry companies and a part of the trade made on marketplaces.

Many Finns sell considerable amounts of berries directly to restaurants, kitchens, private persons etc. Social media is also used increasingly for selling berries. In 2011, for example, more than 5 million kg of the commercial picking by Finnish households remained outside the MARSI statistics. 

It means that the total amount of berries harvested for commercial purposes by foreign pickers and Finns was 17-18 million kg and, of this amount, about half was collected by foreign pickers. For comparison, MARSI statistics claimed that in this particular year (2011) almost 80 % was due to foreign pickers. Unfortunately, there is no corresponding information available from recent years.

Possibilities for Intensifying Berry Picking

Wild berries are free, rapidly renewable goods that contain a lot of natural, valuable ingredients.

The health effects of berries have been recognized widely and recently there has been a growing

national and international demand for wild berries.

It is obvious that more intensive harvesting is possible as the annual utilization rate of wild berries

is only 5-10 %. However, the problem is how to intensify berry collection, particularly commercial

collection. In this consideration, all the measures – including new technical solutions – that aim at

solving this problem are warmly welcomed.

References

Salo, K. 1994. Marjat, sienet, yrttikasvit ja palleroporonjäkälä. In: Tapion taskukirja. p. 298-308.

Turtiainen, M., Salo, K & Saastamoinen, O. 2007. Mustikan ja puolukan marjasatojen valtakunnalliset ja alueelliset kokonaisestimaatit Suomen suometsissä. Suo 58(3-4): 87-98.

Turtiainen, M. 2021. Mustikka- ja puolukkasatojen vuotuisen vaihtelun ja talteenoton tarkastelua valtakunnallisesti ja Itä-Suomen alueella. Alue Ja Ympäristö, 50(1), 4-27. https://doi.org/10.30663/ay.91510