Finnish businesses brace for berry shortage as Thailand hesitates on pickers for Lapland

Finnish wild berries are being promoted to foreign tourists heading to Lapland, but businesses now face a possible berry shortage this winter. This potential crisis arises from allegations of exploitation against Thai berry pickers, leading Thailand to be hesitant about allowing pickers to come to Finland. It remains unclear how many pickers will arrive this summer, but it is already too late for the short cloudberry picking season.

At Lapland Hotels, the largest hotel chain in Lapland, there is intense discussion on how to ensure a sufficient supply of wild blueberries, lingonberries, and cloudberries during the winter season. Chef Tero Mäntykangas noted that no decisions have yet been made regarding the upcoming season, and the situation is uncertain. It may be necessary to limit cloudberries at hotel breakfast services, potentially offering them only on certain days.

Until now, cloudberries have been served at breakfast depending on the season and specific hotels. Mäntykangas emphasized the importance of wild berries as a significant element of the tourist experience, noting that they represent a “wow factor” for visitors seeking natural delicacies.

In contrast, the situation for blueberries is easier since cultivated blueberries can be used in certain products like sorbets. However, many dishes rely solely on wild berries.

Local business owner Antero Ylävaara from the Kuukkelin shopping center reported that he has purchased as many berries as possible directly from local pickers, paying €13.50 per kilogram this year. While domestic berries are adequate for his operations, he anticipates that prices will rise due to supply challenges.

Ylävaara predicts that Lapland’s tourist centers will increasingly use foreign berries, which are cheaper and more readily available. However, at Lapland Hotels, there is a commitment to sourcing local berries, with Mäntykangas stressing that importing foreign berries would weaken their brand identity. The hotel chain sources berries from local pickers as well as from Swedish Lapland through subcontractors, aiming to maximize local purchases despite logistical challenges.