Antibes 6th September 2026
A NORDIC SUMMER EXPERIENCE WE WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU
As a Nordic store, we love sharing not only Nordic products with you, but also a little of the lifestyle, traditions and experiences behind them.
So here is an idea for next summer:
What if your next summer wasn’t spent in the heat and crowds of southern Europe? Imagine long, bright summer evenings, cool forest air, thousands of lakes and forests stretching as far as you can see — and wild berries growing freely in nature.
In Finland, you can combine a summer adventure with an opportunity to earn money by picking wild berries.
For many of our customers, Finland may be familiar through its food, design and Nordic way of life. But there is another side of Finland that is perhaps less well known: its vast forests, abundant wild berries and exceptionally long summer days.
And we think it is worth discovering.
FINLAND’S INCREDIBLE WILD BERRY RESOURCE
Finland is one of Europe’s great wild-berry countries.
The forests are home to bilberries (wild blueberries), lingonberries and cloudberries, as well as many other edible wild berries.
What is particularly remarkable is how little of this natural resource is actually harvested.
According to the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), less than 10% of Finland’s wild berry crop is estimated to end up being used by people.
In other words, an enormous amount of berries grows naturally in Finnish forests every year without being harvested. This is one of the reasons why additional berry pickers are needed during the short summer and autumn seasons.
A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF SUMMER
If you are used to spending your summer on crowded beaches and in high temperatures, Finland offers a completely different experience.
Think:
- cool summer days
- clean forest air
- thousands of lakes
- quiet forests
- long, bright evenings
- wild berries growing all around you
- and, in the north, the midnight sun
Instead of escaping the heat, you can spend your summer outdoors in a cooler climate, surrounded by nature.
And unlike a conventional holiday, your time in the forest can potentially provide you with some additional income.
CAN YOU ACTUALLY MAKE MONEY?
Yes — but it is important to be realistic.
There is no guaranteed income from berry picking.
How much you can earn depends on the year’s crop, the location, the berry species, weather conditions, current buying prices and, of course, how quickly and efficiently you can pick.
Experienced pickers can collect substantial quantities, while a beginner may need some time to learn how to find the best berry spots and develop an efficient picking technique.
We therefore see berry picking not as a guaranteed way to earn a salary, but as a way to combine a Finnish summer experience with the possibility of earning some extra money.
AN INTERESTING FINNISH TAX RULE
There is another reason why this activity is particularly interesting in Finland.
According to the Finnish Tax Administration, income from wild berries, mushrooms and other natural products that you have personally collected is exempt from Finnish income tax, subject to certain conditions.
This is different from being employed by a company as a berry picker. If you are an employee and receive wages, those wages are treated as employment income and are subject to the applicable tax rules.
So if you are considering berry picking in Finland, make sure you understand which arrangement applies to you.
WHAT ABOUT FRENCH AND OTHER EU CITIZENS?
This is where things become particularly interesting for many of our customers. As an EU citizen, you can work in Finland without a separate work permit.
Only if you stay in Finland for more than three months, you need to register your right of residence.
For a French or other EU citizen, therefore, spending part of the summer in Finland is relatively straightforward from a right-to-work perspective.
WHY NOT SWEDEN?
You may be wondering about Sweden. It has vast forests and an abundance of wild berries too, so why are we focusing on Finland?
Quite simply, Finland offers a particularly interesting opportunity for individual berry pickers from a tax perspective. Swedish rules are somewhat less favourable for individuals earning income from wild berry picking.
So while Sweden is certainly worth visiting and is easily accessible, for example by ferry from Helsinki, we think Finland deserves your attention for this particular kind of summer adventure.
WHEN IS THE BERRY SEASON?
The exact timing depends on the weather and the region, but the season generally progresses northwards as the summer advances.
July: Cloudberries begin to ripen, particularly in northern areas.
July–August: Bilberries are generally in season.
August–September: Lingonberries become increasingly available.
This means that a longer trip can potentially allow you to follow the berry season northwards through Finland.
And, of course, you don’t have to spend every day picking.
TURN IT INTO A NORDIC ADVENTURE
Berry picking can be just one part of your Finnish summer.
You could combine it with:
- hiking and national parks
- camping
- canoeing and lake activities
- traditional Finnish saunas
- visiting Finnish cities
- cruising over to Sweden
- experiencing the midnight sun
The idea isn’t simply to come to Finland to work. – It is to experience Finland in a way that few tourists ever do.
Spend time in the forest. Discover where the berries in Finnish food come from. Meet the landscape behind the products you may already know and enjoy.
And perhaps return home with some extra money in your pocket.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
If this idea has sparked your interest, there are several Finnish organisations and services that can provide more practical information about berry picking, accommodation, berry prices and the picking season.
Two examples are Pickerri and Gene-Works, both of which provide information for people interested in independent berry picking in Finland. You can find details about their current arrangements, conditions and application processes on their respective websites.
Please note that Nordic Temptations is not involved in organizing or providing berry-picking services, and we have no responsibility for the information, arrangements, prices or conditions provided by these independent operators. We are simply sharing these resources because we think the opportunity is interesting and may be worth exploring for those who would like to experience a very different kind of Nordic summer.
For the latest information, always check the conditions directly with the organisation you choose before making any travel plans.
A LITTLE NORDIC INSPIRATION FROM US
We sell Nordic products because we believe there is something special about the Nordic way of life — its relationship with nature, simplicity and the seasons.
That’s why we wanted to share this idea with you.
Next summer, instead of simply buying Finnish berries, why not come and discover where they come from? The Finnish forests are waiting.
And there may be considerably more berries there than you imagine.
AT YOUR SERVICE
from Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-13:30 and 15:30-19:00.
By arrival with private vehicle the closest parking is the “La Poste” with entrance just in front of us on rue Vauban, outdoor parking and the garage “Pré-des-Pêcheurs” in the harbour.
