Honeyberry cultivation nearly doubles in Finland in five years

Cultivation of honeyberry, also known as haskap, has nearly doubled in Finland over the past five years, according to a report by Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The berry remains largely unknown to consumers, posing a challenge to the growth in production. Despite its obscurity, honeyberry is praised for its health benefits, early ripening, and ease of cultivation in Finland’s climate.

At the Rintalanmäki berry farm in Seinäjoki, honeyberries have been grown alongside other berries on half a hectare of land for five years. The farm has seen positive results, with demand slowly increasing through word of mouth. Farmer Riitta Mäki-Jouppi believes the berry’s popularity will grow, noting its appeal to younger generations and its health benefits.

Heidi Wirtanen, executive director of the Finnish Fruit and Berry Growers’ Association, highlights the berry’s advantages: it is hardy, resistant to cold, and its flowers can withstand frost. However, harvesting is labor-intensive, as the berries must be picked by hand to preserve their quality. Mechanical harvesting is possible only for industrial use, such as in yogurts, juices, and ice cream.

Honeyberry production is still recorded under the “other berries” category in statistics, with the total cultivation area for these berries growing from 47 hectares in 2020 to 98 hectares in 2025. Despite this growth, demand has not kept pace, partly due to low consumer awareness.

Farmers Anni and Juha Mäki-Jouppi note that honeyberry is low-maintenance, requiring little more than occasional fertilization and clearing of brush. The berry’s taste, described as a mix of lingonberry, blueberry, raspberry, and blackcurrant, with some detecting hints of kiwi, may also contribute to its slow adoption. The variety of honeyberry types can lead to inconsistent flavors, which some consumers find confusing.

Honeyberry is known globally for its health benefits, containing three times the flavonoids of wild blueberries, along with high levels of antioxidants and vitamins. In Russia, it is called zhimolost, in Japan haskap, and in the US honeyberry.