Northern strawberry harvest still uneven as demand outstrips supply

Northern Finland’s strawberry crop is maturing unevenly, with some fields still ripening while demand already exceeds available supply, growers report.

Favourable weather has produced a solid harvest in the north, while southern regions face shortages. A long, cool spring delayed ripening but spared the crop from heat stress and heavy rain during picking.

“Conditions in northern Finland point to a moderate-to-good harvest,” said Esa Runtti, chair of the Fruit and Berry Growers’ Association’s northern Finland district and a strawberry farmer in Ruukki. “Winter losses were limited and the cool spring actually benefited the berries.”

Runtti said picking in North Ostrobothnia is about half complete, with the main harvest window running through July. He advised freezer owners to shop now, as supply peaks before tapering in August.

In Keminmaa’s Itäkoski district, farmer Teemu Alatalo said older plants are yielding small but high-quality berries, while younger beds are still setting fruit and should be ready next week. Alatalo has shifted entirely to customer-pick operations because hired pickers are scarce.

At Pekkala farm outside Rovaniemi, partner Tuomo Kuusela said pickers start at 03:00 because of the midnight sun, and demand still outstrips supply despite good yields and quality. He expects picking to continue into next week and possibly beyond. “We haven’t opened customer picking yet,” Kuusela said.

In Sotkamo, Kari Määttä of Marjatila Takkula reported less grey mould and botrytis than in previous years and expects an average crop. Klaus Karjula in Lumijoki said roughly 80 per cent of his main varieties have already been harvested, with late varieties still coming in through month-end.