Berry pickers earn well this summer but tax rules may bite

Wild berry sales have surged this summer, with prices tripling in some cases, but Finland’s Tax Administration warns that profits may be taxable if pickers fail to follow the rules.

In Lappeenranta, berry entrepreneur Dalla Valle reports three times as many sellers at her sales points compared to last year. At the berry exchange, the advance price for a litre of blueberries has risen to €4.50, up from €1.55 in 2025.

According to the Tax Administration, income from selling self-picked wild berries and other natural products is tax-free—unless the berries are processed. Freezing alone counts as processing, as do pureeing, juicing, or sweetening. Cleaning and packing berries into containers, however, do not qualify as processing. Berries picked by employees or subcontractors are always taxable income.

Birgitta Partanen, executive director of the natural products industry group Arktiset Aromit, advises that berries can be delivered to purchase points unwashed, as they are mechanically cleaned after freezing. Direct sales to consumers may be left unwashed if buyers prefer it, but berries must never be washed with water, as moisture promotes microbial growth and degrades quality.

Berries should be transported in covered containers; insulated bags work in hot weather. If using a trailer, cover the load and ensure no odours from fuel or other substances can contaminate the berries. Pesticides must not be used near or on the hands of pickers, as even trace amounts can be detected in analyses and lead to entire batches being rejected.

Sales often take place through social media groups, but Partanen notes cases of fraud where either berries or payment have gone missing. She recommends paying on delivery to verify both quantity and quality.

For guidance on sales regulations, pickers can contact municipal food authorities, the Finnish Food Authority, or the Tax Administration.