Finland’s forests may soon be overflowing with berries that nobody can pick.
Delays in visa processing for thousands of Thai seasonal workers are now threatening this year’s berry harvest in Finland, according to Finnish media Yle.
The country depends heavily on Thai berry pickers every summer. Around 3,200 Thai workers are expected to travel to Finland during the harvest season to collect wild berries from the forests.
However, many are still unable to secure visa appointment slots in Thailand.
According to industry organisation Arktiset Aromit, only about half of the workers contracted by food company Pohjola Foods have managed to book appointments so far.
The warning comes at a difficult time for Finland’s berry industry, which is already under pressure after authorities uncovered cartel activity in the sector.
If enough workers fail to arrive, large quantities of berries could remain unpicked in Finnish forests this summer.
The shortage may also lead to higher berry prices for consumers.
Thai seasonal workers have for years played a key role in Finland’s berry industry. Every summer, thousands travel to the Nordic country to pick blueberries, lingonberries and cloudberries during the short harvest season.
The work is physically demanding, but many workers return year after year because the income can be significantly higher than average wages in rural Thailand.
The situation is now creating uncertainty for both Thai workers and Finnish berry companies as the summer season approaches.
