Finland berry market booms as foreign picker visas denied

Sales of wild berries in Finland have surged, with Tori.fi reporting a more than 50% increase in blueberry listings compared with the previous year and 85,000 buyer searches. The platform projects around 6,000 blueberry listings by 2025 and expects similar growth for lingonberries, with prices staying near €50 per bucket.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected the majority of seasonal work visas for foreign berry pickers, citing alleged abuses and criminal suspicions. The visa curtailment has limited the arrival of overseas pickers, prompting domestic harvesters to meet the high demand. The rise in sales is also linked to economic concerns among Finns and heightened media attention on the visa policy.

New online venues and social‑media groups have further amplified berry trading, while price levels remain stable despite inflation pressures.