FAQs

Berry picking in Finland is a popular outdoor activity where people gather wild berries, such as lingonberries, cranberies, cloudberries, blueberries, and sometimes mushrooms from forests and fields. The gathered berries can either be consumed or sold. It's a cherished tradition enjoyed during the summer months when berries are ripe and abundant. There is infact a berry picking law in the country.

In Finland, the annual quantities of wild berries available and actually picked can vary significantly based on weather conditions, environmental factors, and harvesting efforts. Finland's forests produce an astounding two billion kilos of mushrooms and 500 million kg of berries annually, and despite urbanization, the custom of gathering wild mushrooms and berries is still quite popular. According to a research, 56% of Finns, regardless of their financial situation, gather forest berries at least seven times a summer. Older women are the berry pickers with the most enthusiasm: 87 percent of women in the 60-74 age range select wild berries.

The majority of Finland's berries are grown in its northern and eastern regions, and those who live there also gather the most of them. Every household in the northeastern Finnish region of Kainuu harvests roughly 60 kg of berries annually on average.

On average, Finns, foreign agricultural workers, foreigners, students, tourists and visitors collectively pick tens of millions of kilograms of wild berries each year. Generally less than 10% of available berries is picked.

The Finnish Berry Law, also known as "Everyman's Right" (Jokamiehenoikeus), allows everyone to roam freely in nature, including private forests, and to pick wild berries, mushrooms, and flowers without needing the landowner's permission. This right is subject to certain restrictions to protect the environment and respect private property, ensuring sustainable and respectful use of natural resources. This law also benefits foreigners, as it permits everyone to pick berries without requiring special permissions, supporting the berry industry and providing opportunities for people from other countries. Details of the law can be found in Berry Act and Occupational Safety Administration.

The picker of wild berries and other natural products has the right to:
• • sell the natural products they pick to a party of their choice
• • move from the accommodation and catering organised by a natural product collection operator to other accommodation and catering of their choice.

Pickerri is a platform that connects independent, enthusiastic, and energetic berry pickers with berry-picking buddies. Our mission is to ensure that Pickers including first-timers experience no challenges in picking berries and that picked berries are sold at fair prices. In other words, we assist Pickers negotiate their costs and aim to get the best prices, we ensure the picking experience is seemless and enjoyable and we price and buy the berries at the best prices.

To qualify to pick berries with Pickerri, you need to be independent, and be physically fit to do outdoor work in the woods. You also have to be a legal occupant in Finland .

All over Finland. However the regions around the north eastern border historically provides the best berries. In 2024 the picking was done in the regions of Suomussalmi , Kalajoki and Pyhajarvi.

The picking exercise involves several steps and considerations:

• Travel to the designated berry-picking location, typically in a small town or city.
• Renting a guest-house or accommodation in a nearby city to stay during the picking season.
• Forming teams of 3-5 people to share the cost of transportation, often using a car with a trailer to transport equipment and harvested berries.
• Pick berries independently within the team using buckets and picker tools.
• At the end of each picking day, harvested berries are collected and poured into plastic crates.
• A standard plastic crate typically holds around 10 kilograms of berries.
• The harvest is then weighed for each Picker, and the weight recorded against the Pickers name.

To being, express your interest by completing the Form. Soon thereafter, and before the season starts, you shall be contacted to confirm you are actually picking, if we have a suitable team for you.

In wild berry picking, transportation plays a crucial role.You need a car to travel from your accommodation to forest areas where berries are found. After picking, the berries must be delivered to scaling points, which also requires transportation. Due to the volume of berries collected, a trailer is often needed for sufficient storage space.

If renting a car and trailer the approximate cost will be as below :

*We would always recommend to bring your own vehicle and Trailer for the picking.

In the application, we gather specific details to optimize your berry-picking experience:

• Whether you have a car or prefer to join a team with a car.
• Details about your car, such as whether it has a tow hitch or roof box attachment, which can affect team size.
• If you have already formed a team with friends to avoid unnecessary suggestions.
• Your trailer situation—whether you own one, plan to rent, or will rent on-site.
• Gender, to recommend suitable accommodation options.
• Nationality, to match you with others who speak the same language or share cultural preferences.
• IBAN (International Bank Account Number) for payment processing, as payments are made to Finnish bank accounts only.
• Estimated daily picking hours and length of stay preferences, to group individuals with similar schedules.
• Your city of departure, to facilitate carpooling and cost-sharing among team members.

These details ensure we can tailor our recommendations and support to meet your specific needs, making your berry-picking adventure in Finland as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

The main challenges during berry picking are humidity and wet weather. In the first two weeks of the season, mosquitoes and other flying insects can also be a problem.

To stay protected and comfortable, make sure to bring the following:

• Clothing: Wear comfortable, breathable clothing that covers your entire body and is suitable for outdoor summer work. Summer temperatures usually range from 16°C to 30°C, but toward the end of the season, they can drop to as low as 0°C to 5°C. Bring a jacket for unexpected cold weather later in the season. To protect against insects, cover your whole body, and consider bringing a face net and breathable gloves.
• Raincoats and Rain Pants:  In rainy conditions, it's essential to have your own full-body raincoat to stay dry. Morning dew and wet leaves can also be a challenge. As you walk through the forest, your pants can get soaked, and water may run down into your rubber boots. Rubber boots alone won't keep your feet dry unless you're also wearing rain pants to prevent water from flowing down your legs into the boots.
• Footwear/Rubber Boots: opt for sturdy, lightweight, closed-toe shoes or rubber boots that offer both water protection and support. These boots are commonly available at local shops for approximately 20–30 euros.
• Bed Sheets: At the guesthouse, you are required to bring your own bed sheets for personal use.
• Water Bottles: To stay hydrated in the forest or work field, we recommend bringing your own water bottles. Ideally, choose containers that can hold up to 10 liters of water. This allows you to carry enough water for your entire team and reduces the need for frequent refills, especially in remote areas like forests where refilling may not be possible or may take time.

By dressing appropriately, you'll be well-prepared to handle the conditions efficiently and enjoy your berry-picking experience in Finland.

The amount of berries you can pick in a day varies depending on your experience and efficiency. Here's a general guideline:

• Newbies typically pick around 40kg-70kg of berries in a day.
• Experienced pickers can harvest up to 150kg in a day.
• The dedicated Picker can earn 1000-3000 euros monthly after expenses are met.

A standard berry picking crate holds about 10kg of berries, which can help you estimate your daily harvest. Your actual yield will depend on factors like berry availability, your speed, and stamina.

The sales price of berries varies based on factors such as the quality of the harvest year and the type of berry. Cloudberries, being rarer, command higher prices, often up to 10 euros per kilogram. Blueberries typically range from 1.3 to 2.5 euros per kilogram. Supply and demand factors also affects the prices of berries. Below is a table illustrating price trends in recent years.

Absolutely. As an independent Picker, you choose whomever you sell to. However, Pickerri's mission is to find the best prices for the Teams, it is thereafter, highly unlikely that you will find a better prices alone.

Extremely safe. The most dangerous things you’ll encounter are mosquitoes and flies. Occasionally, you might see reindeers, but they are harmless and will quickly move away. Bears are even rarer; they usually detect you first and run away. However, if you get too close to a bear cub, the mother may become aggressive. If you encounter a brown/grizzly bear and it attacks:

Leave your pack on.
Play dead.
Lie flat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck.
Spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to turn you over.
Remain still until the bear leaves the area.

Snakes are also very rare, and their venom is weak. There have been no reports of snake bites causing harm for decades. Wearing sturdy shoes will protect you from any potential bites.

Additional Safety Guidelines: In the remote areas where berry picking occurs, the local towns typically have fewer than 20,000 residents, resulting in minimal traffic on the roads.This makes it easy for animals to use the roads. Keep an eye out for reindeer, which occasionally cross roads unexpectedly and are a common cause of accidents in Finland. It's advisable to drive below the speed limit in these areas and remain vigilant of forested areas adjacent to the road. Be cautious when navigating hills, valleys, and winding roads.

Guesthouses differ in kitchen setups.

• • Some offer large kitchens and dining halls.
• • Others have just one small kitchen with a single chef, so buying ready-made meals is mandatory there.
• • In guesthouses with multiple kitchens, you can cook your own meals or team up with others to prepare food together.
• • During the Picking, you can carry water bottles, Ideally, choose containers that can hold up to 10 liters of water, Styrofoam food storages, backpack, food pouches.

For life-threatening emergencies, call the Finnish emergency center at 112. You can also contact Pickerri via WhatsApp; we always answer calls! Additionally, our web application has an emergency alert form that shares your location and lets you request a tow truck if needed. Each guest house or collection center has a Berry Intake Coordinator who can assist you.

For General Emergency Situation
112
Suomussalmi Health Center
General telephone +358 861566200 Location:Välskärinkuja 2, 89600 Opening hours: Monday—Thursday: 8:00 AM—4:00 PM Friday: 8:00 AM—3:00 PM
Crime victim emergency room RIKU
Emaill:help@riku.fi General telephone service +358 40 664 1707 • Monday-Friday 11:00-13:00 and 15:00-18:00 https://www.riku.fi/en/
Suomussalmi Poison Emergency
116117

If you have been subjected to any unfair treatment, forced labor or abuse, there are government institutions out there to your rescue. You can reach out to them through any of the following contacts:

Finnish Occupational Safety Law Nationwide: +358 295 016 620 Northern Finland: +358 295 016 000 Email: tyosuojelu.pohjois@avi.fi Address: Regional State Administrative Agency for Northern Finland Occupational safety and health division Linnankatu 3 FI-90100 Oulu, Finland