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Berry picking in Finland is a popular outdoor activity tradition where people head into forests and fields to gather wild berries like cloudberries, blueberries, lingonberries, and cranberries. Sometimes people also pick mushrooms. You can enjoy the berries yourself, cook with them, or even sell them if you collect enough. It’s especially popular in the summer when everything is in season and the forests are full of fresh, ripe berries. One nice thing about Finland is that berry picking is allowed under “everyman’s right,” (Jokamiehenoikeus),which means you’re free to pick berries in nature even if the land isn’t yours (as long as you respect nature and follow the rules) |
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Pickerri connects independent residents in Finland who would love to pick berries, during the berry picking season, to the buyers of the berries. 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 in negotiating their costs and aim to get the best prices, we ensure the picking experience is seamless and enjoyable and we price and buy the berries at the best prices. 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 theenvironment 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 fromother 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, moving from the accommodation and catering organized by a natural product collection operator to other accommodation and catering of their choice, if the purpose of entry into the country does not change. They their date of arrival in and departure from, the country decide on their schedule for picking. |
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Berry season in Finland usually takes place between mid-July and mid-October. Last year, the seasonwas from 19th July 2025 to 17th October 2025. However, the exact timing of the season cannot be accurately predicted, as it is completely dependent on natural conditions such as climate, temperature, rainfall, and sunshine, which are beyond our control. Each season may vary depending on weather and environmental conditions.Some might say it’s in God’s hands, as each season can turn out differently depending on the natural conditions.
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To qualify for berry picking with Pickerri, you must be independent, physically fit, and capable of working outdoors in forest conditions during the season. You also need to be a legal occupant in Finland. A vehicle is mandatory for wild berry picking, as it is essential for reaching suitable forest areas and transporting berries to the weighing stations. |
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Berry picking takes place all over Finland. However, areas with large forest coverage, rich greenery, and natural surroundings outside major cities generally provide the best berry-picking opportunities. Historically, the northeastern border regions have produced high berry yields. |
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Finland’s forests are incredibly generous when it comes to wild berries. In a good year, they can produce around 500 million kilos of berries alongside an even greater amount of mushrooms. Of course, how much actually gets picked depends on factors like the weather and how many people head out to forage. Berry picking is still a big part of everyday life here. More than half of Finns go out to gather berries several times each summer, regardless of their background or income. And if you ever join a picking trip, don’t be surprised to see plenty of experienced older women out there. They are often the most enthusiastic foragers, with a large majority in the 60–74 age group heading into the forest each season. |
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The amount of berries you can pick in a day varies depending on your experience, efficiency, supply and demand of berry quality. Here's a general guideline:
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Pickerri’s mission is to secure the best possible prices for the teams, making it highly unlikely that youwill find better prices independently. If you sell your berries to us, you will also receive attractive andfeasible accommodation rates along with other affordable cost benefits. However, as an independent picker, you are free to sell your berries to any buyer of your choice. |
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The sales price of berries depends on market demand, supply, and the quality of the berries during the season. Prices may vary each year based on harvest conditions and berry availability. Cloudberries, being rarer, generally receive higher prices, while blueberry prices vary depending on seasonal demand and supply trends. Below is a table illustrating price trends in recent years.
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Berry picking is non-taxable, so you keep all that you earn with no tax deductions. |
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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 deliveredto scaling points, which also requires transportation. Due to the volume of berries collected, a trailer is often needed for sufficient storage space.We recommend all teams of two or more members to usea trailer. |
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This guide helps berry pickers choose a suitable vehicle
for berry-picking work in rural and forest areas. The goal is to support
teams
in selecting practical, affordable, and reliable vehicles that suit their
team size and working environment. As berry picking takes place on rough
forest roads, vehicles canbe exposed to wear, damage, and difficult driving
conditions. In some cases, the damage can be significant; therefore, it is
recommended to use affordable, mid-range
vehicles rather than overly expensive or high-value cars.
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The team member who plans to drive the vehicle to the
picking locations must hold a valid driving licence that is recognized in
Finland.If your from a country where the
driving licence is issued in a contracting state where Finland and some 110
other countries are signatories
to the Geneva and Vienna Conventions on Road Traffic then you can use the
home country licence
up to two years of time from the time moving to Finland.The list of
countries which are
signatories to the Geneva and Vienna Conventions on Road Traffic can be
checked in the below mentioned
link. If you have a valid driving licence issued in a state other than an EU
or
EEA Member State or a Contracting State,your driving licence will be
accepted for one year after
you moved to Finland. To learn more on the list of the contracting countries
and other vital details
of same please visit the link below |
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Accommodation is not located in cities but in rural areas, close to nature and berry-picking sites. Because of this, conditions can be very different from what many people may be used to. These places are usually used only temporarily during the berry season and are chosen mainly for practical and budget reasons, not for comfort or high quality. During the season, you may need to relocate several times depending on berry availability and weather conditions. If the best harvest areas change, pickers might move to different accommodations, sometimes covering long distances of several hundred kilometers. Please also note that accommodation costs may vary depending on the time, place, availability, and overall seasonal situation. Our focus is to keep accommodation costs as low as possible. We are not prioritizing high-standard or premium housing, but instead choosing the most affordable options available so that more income can be saved from the season. |
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This depends on the guesthouse and the location. In most guesthouses, there is only a small kitchen where one chef cooks for everyone. In such locations, buying ready meals is mandatory for all guests. Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) will be available at a reasonable price. |
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The picking exercise involves several steps and
considerations: |
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For those who are not familiar with the Nordic wilderness, it is common to feel a sense of hesitationregarding wild animals or unknown plants. However, the "dangers" of the Finnish forest are often misunderstood. Most risks are easily managed with basic knowledge and the right equipmentExtremely safe. The most dangerous things you’ll encounter are mosquitoes and flies. Occasionally, you might see reindeer, 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. 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 crossroads 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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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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In the application, we gather specific details to optimize your
berry-picking
experience: |
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The picking exercise involves several steps and
considerations: |
