Berry crop update

Cloudberry picking has begun in some parts of the country and blueberry harvesting is starting in southern Finland. The berry season is still in its early stages, but below is a brief update based on the current information.

Weak cloudberry harvest expected

The cloudberry season is currently ongoing, but the harvest is expected to be weak. As a result, we estimate that cloudberry availability will be poor compared to the previous three abundant years.

Moderate bilberry yield

After several good harvest years, the bilberry yield in Finland is expected to be clearly lower this season. According to a forecast published by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), the harvest is expected to be at best moderate. The first picking results support this forecast.

One contributing factor is the increasingly appearing fungal disease called Valdensinia heterodoxa which has been spreading in Finnish forests this season due to favorable weather conditions in the spring and early summer. The disease appears on bilberry leaves as brown spots and, in severe cases, can cause entire bilberry shrubs to dry, preventing them from bearing fruit. This previously unfamiliar pathogen has been observed particularly in the southern and central parts of the country. In some areas, up to 20% of the bilberry crop has been destroyed. It is important to note that this is a plant disease and not harmful to humans—existing bilberries remain safe to pick and eat.

Lingonberry outlook currently promising

According to the Natural Resources Institute Finland forecast, the lingonberry outlook is above average, and there is a high volume of unripe berries in the forests. However, the actual harvest volume will also depend on the limited number of pickers in both Finland and Sweden. As there are basically no remaining stocks from previous years, the market supply will rely heavily on the new harvest.

European wild bilberry yields remain weak

We expect the total volume of wild berries harvested in Finland and Sweden to be significantly lower than in previous years. In addition to weaker harvest forecasts, this is due to the limited number of pickers. Finland currently has around 2,600 Thai pickers under employment contracts, while Sweden has only 100.

In Ukraine and the Baltic countries, wild bilberry harvests are also expected to be poor. As a result, wild bilberry availability will be limited.