Berry prices set to rise after Finland denies visas to foreign workers
The Finnish Foreign Ministry has rejected two-thirds of visa applications for seasonal berry pickers. Industry groups warn of severe labor shortages and inevitable price spikes for consumers.
The Finnish berry industry is facing a major crisis after the Foreign Ministry rejected approximately 1,400 out of 2,200 visa applications for foreign seasonal workers. The majority of the applications were processed at the Finnish Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. The authorities implemented these strict measures following recent revelations of labor exploitation and human trafficking within the sector, which have already led to criminal convictions for former berry company executives.
Birgitta Partanen, executive director of the industry group Arctic Aromas, has described the situation as catastrophic. She warned that for many companies, these decisions could be fatal, forcing several to cease operations entirely. Industry associations are furious that the rejections were delivered in a last-minute fashion, making it impossible to recruit domestic workers to replace the missing foreign labor force.
Kristel Nybondas from the Federation of Agricultural Employers (MTA) confirmed that berry entrepreneurs have already filed appeals with administrative courts. Experts agree that a significant portion of this year's wild berry crop will remain unpicked in the forests because there are simply not enough hands to harvest it. Market analysts predict that this supply shortfall will lead to an inevitable rise in retail prices for consumers throughout the current season.
Arto Aholainen, CEO of Karelian Maukkaat Marjat, stated that the labor shortage has placed businesses in an impossible position. Meanwhile, Janne Piikivi, CEO of Kiantama, noted that while the industry had braced for some negative decisions, the scale of the rejections remains a major concern. Companies are now looking for alternatives, including encouraging Finnish citizens to pick berries themselves for market and industrial supply.
Despite forecasts suggesting a relatively good harvest this year, the availability of berries, especially for the frozen goods market, is expected to drop significantly. Partanen predicts that social media will become a primary channel for fresh berry sales this year, as individual pickers sell their hauls directly to consumers. However, the industrial sector and large processors remain at risk of severe supply chain disruptions due to the lack of raw materials.