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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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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. |
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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 . |
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All over Finland. However the regions around the north eastern border historically provides the best berries. The official statistics for the 2024 season also indicates that the Kainuu region of Finland (Suomussalmi and Kuusamo are cities in Kainuu) will provide the best yield. |
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The picking exercise involves several steps and considerations:
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To being, express your interest by completing the Form. Soon thereafter, anf before the season starts, you shall be contacted to confirm you are actually picking, if we have a suitable team for you. |
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In the application, we gather specific details to optimize your berry-picking experience:
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. |
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The primary challenges during berry picking are mosquitoes and other flying insects. To protect yourself and ensure comfort, here's what you'll need:
By dressing appropriately, you'll be well-prepared to handle the conditions and enjoy your berry-picking experience in Finland.
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The amount of berries you can pick in a day varies depending on your experience and efficiency. Here's a general guideline:
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.
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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. For example, if fewer people are picking, as it is likely to be in 2024, then the prices should expectedly go higher. Below is a table illustrating price trends in recent years. According to forecasts from the Center for Natural Resources, this year is expected to yield a good harvest, suggesting better prices compared to recent years. For more details, you can visit the forecast page.
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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. |
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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:
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. |
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You can make your own food in the Guesthouses. Each guest house have several kitchens. You can also arrange amongst your Teams and cook enmass. The Cabins also have big kitchens and dinning halls. During the Picking, you can carry waterbottles, styrofoam food storages, backpack, food pouches and even a camper stove to make a quick meal.
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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.
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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:
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