Finnish strawberries to reach stores before Midsummer thanks to Southwest Finland

Domestic strawberries will be available in stores before Midsummer in Finland, with Southwest Finland leading the early harvest, reports Yle.

Growers in the region report fields are already yielding ripe fruit, with the season starting earlier than in the rest of the country. Esa Rannikko, a farmer in Halikko, Salo, noted the berries began turning red last week.

This year’s harvest is expected to be moderate nationwide, according to Tero Sarkala, field chief at MTK Southwest Finland. Harsh winter conditions, including damage from Storm Hannes, followed by late frosts and heavy rains, have slowed growth. Recent downpours have further delayed ripening, though improved sunshine could accelerate the process.

Southwest Finland’s growing importance as a strawberry hub stems from its long season, diverse cultivation methods—greenhouses, tunnels, and open fields—and large-scale producers. The region has supplied strawberries since early May from greenhouses and tunnels, with the open-field season extending into October.

Rannikko, whose farm is among Finland’s largest, employs 300 pickers and must plan harvests and shifts carefully. He expects the main open-field crop to ripen by the Monday after Midsummer, provided warm weather continues.

Tunnel farming, while expensive to establish, accounts for a small share of cultivation area but yields up to half the region’s strawberry output. Sarkala notes that though tunnel-grown berries are efficient, open-field strawberries retain strong local demand, with some claiming they taste better.

Wind during spring also disrupted pollination, reducing yields. Rannikko stresses that strawberry orders now require advance planning, as last-minute sales calls are no longer sufficient.