Strawberries plucked from local bushes will find their way to supermarkets and local market places, and from there to table tops across southern Finland. In northern Finland and Ostrobothnia, though, berry connoisseurs will have to wait a bit longer.
Following chilly conditions in June, a late-blooming heat wave has spurred local strawberries on to lush ripeness, and has held back the anticipated delay in the harvest season to only one week behind schedule.
Of course, strawberries have been popping up in small quantities across the country, but major harvests from vast open fields have had to wait this year. However early estimates are weighing in this year’s crop at about 1.5 million kilograms.
Self-service Farms Flourish
While the global and local economy may appear to have shrivelled up, by contrast direct sales by self-service harvesting is expected to bloom this year. The Fruit and Berry Farmers Association believes that the demand for strawberries will not be pruned by the gloomy economic environment. Rather, the expectation is that self-service harvesting will enjoy a growth in popularity. The fruit and berry entrepreneurs point out that a similar phenomenon occured during the recession of the 1990s.
Espoo-based farmer Mauri Jääskeläinen says he’s looking forward to welcoming self-service amateur strawberry pickers on his farm, as he’s used to selling the bulk of his crop in this way.
”People can come whenever it’s convenient for them. Self-service farms are very different from ”slave farms”. Intense heat and rain can also keep people away,” he pointed out.
Strawberry Farmers at the Mercy of the Elements
Strawberry faming is a risky business during the fickle Finnish summer. Earlier this summer strawberry fields promised a healthy crop, but sudden changes in the weather could destoy crops and dash framers’ hopes.
”When your livelihood depends on the skies, you learn to deal with what it may bring. Crops may be destroyed by heavy rains or by heat waves,” explained Hannu Salo of the Fruit and Berry Farmers Association.
The strawberry season runs until the end of August, or for as long as the heavens smile on Finland’s strawberry fields.