Harvest calendar 2026

When is the harvest ready?

The best moments of Finland's forests and waters, month by month. See when bilberry, lingonberry, cloudberry, chanterelle and crayfish are at their best – and order them fresh straight from foragers and small producers.

For foragers — sell direct, no middlemen

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Sell only the berries, mushrooms and herbs you picked yourself, straight to the buyer. Take a photo, set a price and publish — we handle the sale.

Among successful foragers' sales we raffle 10 × €50 gift cards to K-Market.

To enter: add a photo of yourself with the berries, mushrooms or herbs you picked and tell us the picking area. The raffle ends 15 Aug 2026.

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Seasons at a glance

Weather varies year to year and by region: in southern Finland the harvest often ripens 2–3 weeks earlier than in Lapland. Times are indicative for 2026.

Bilberry Jul–Aug Lingonberry Aug–Oct Cloudberry July Chanterelle Jul–Oct Mushrooms Aug–Oct Crayfish 21 Jul–31 Oct

Harvest seasons by produce

When does bilberry ripen? – Bilberry season 2026

Jul–Aug

In southern and central Finland bilberry usually ripens from mid-July and peaks from late July to mid-August. In northern Finland and Lapland the season starts about 1–2 weeks later, in early August. Good picking days often last into early September.

Season by region

Southern Finland

Ripe from mid-July, best from late July to mid-August.

Central Finland

Harvest from late July to the end of August.

Northern Finland & Lapland

Starts in early August, good picking days into September.

Harvest forecast 2026

Luke forecasts a good bilberry crop in southern and central Finland, and an average or slightly better one elsewhere. On average three out of four flowers in the monitoring forests developed into unripe berries – at the best southern sites up to nine out of ten.

Source: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), 13 July 2026

When can you pick bilberries in 2026? Under everyone's right (jokamiehenoikeus), anyone may pick ripe bilberries as soon as they ripen – in practice from mid-July. The earliest harvest comes from sunny heaths.

Picker reports

Status 8 July 2026: In Central Finland bilberries are already blue but not yet ripe – pickers expect ripening to take another week or two.

Tip: fresh bilberries keep only a few days in the fridge – freeze them right away if you can't use the harvest.

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🫐 Fresh Cleaned Wild Blueberries – 10 L / €50

50,00 € / 10 Litres

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Tuoreita luonnonmustikkoja, metsästä poimittu

50,00 € / 5kg / 10l

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Pickup · Oulu Rodion Sokolov

Fresh wild blueberries, picked from the forest

50,00 € / 5kg / 10l

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Pickup · Kajaani Rodion Sokolov

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Lingonberry season – when can you pick lingonberries?

Aug–Oct

Lingonberry ripens later than bilberry: the harvest starts in late August and peaks in September. Lingonberries can often be picked into October, and the first night frosts make the berries sweeter. In northern Finland the season falls in September–October.

Season by region

Southern Finland

Ripens in late August, best in September.

Central Finland

Harvest in September, picking into October.

Northern Finland & Lapland

September–October, night frosts sweeten the berries.

Harvest forecast 2026

Luke expects a good lingonberry crop across the whole country.

Source: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), 13 July 2026

Tip: lingonberries keep naturally for a long time thanks to their benzoic acid – mashed and cold, even through the winter.

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Berry granola

9,50 € / kpl

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from 5,75 € Anuna/ Tmi Anu Heikkinen

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Cloudberry season 2026 – a short window

July

Cloudberry ripens in a short, roughly two-week window. Summer 2026 is early: on open bogs at the latitude of the Lakeland region ripe berries are being picked in early July already, while on Lapland's bogs the season runs from late July to early August. A ripe cloudberry is amber-orange and comes off easily.

Season by region

Southern Finland

An early year 2026: ripe berries on open bogs from early July.

Central Finland

Ripe on open bogs from early July, treed bogs about a week behind; near the eastern border the crop is weak in places.

Northern Finland & Lapland

First ripe berries in Koillismaa in early July; in Lapland from late July to early August.

Harvest forecast 2026

According to Luke, the cloudberry crop varies locally – see the latest picker reports below.

Source: Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), 13 July 2026

Note: ripe cloudberries may be picked under everyone's right, but in some areas picking unripe berries before they ripen is restricted. On private bogs the picking right may belong to the landowner.

Picker reports

Status 8 July 2026: An early season. On open bogs in North Savo and North Karelia ripe cloudberries are already being picked – several kilos a day from the best bogs – but ripening is uneven: overripe and unripe berries sit side by side, and treed or ditched bogs run about a week behind. In Koillismaa the first ripe berries are appearing in small numbers. In Kainuu and near the eastern border (Suomussalmi, Lieksa among others) the crop outlook is weak, as cold rains during flowering spoiled pollination. If you usually time your trip around Jaakko's Day (25 July), you will be too late in southern and eastern Finland this year.

Tip: cloudberry is a delicate berry – use or freeze it soon after picking. Pick only ripe berries and revisit the same bog several times, as ripening is uneven.

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Loppu

Wild cloudberry

10,00 € / rasia

Loppu

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Hillaa

20,00 € / kg

Loppu

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Tuore lakka/hilla

20,00 € / l

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Pickup · Ylöjärvi Saara Tyrkkö

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Chanterelle season – when can you find chanterelles?

Jul–Oct

Chanterelles start appearing as early as July after warm rains, and the season lasts into October. The best time is August–September. A rainy late summer brings an abundant harvest; in a dry summer chanterelles keep you waiting.

Season by region

Southern Finland

Appear from July, best in August–September.

Central Finland

August–September after warm rains.

Northern Finland & Lapland

August to October; a rainy summer brings an abundant harvest.

Tip: chanterelles often grow in the same spots year after year – make a note of good patches.

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Kantarellit

5,00 € / Litra

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Pickup · Rauma Mei H

Kantarellit

8,00 € / l

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Pickup · Hollola Oona Mäkinen

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Mushroom season in Northern Finland

Aug–Oct

In northern Finland the real mushroom season runs from August to October. Porcini and milk-caps peak in August–September, while the funnel chanterelle carries on well into October until the first frosts. The autumn 'ruska' foliage season is the prime foraging time in Lapland.

Season by region

Southern Finland

August–October, porcini at their best in August–September.

Central Finland

August–October, funnel chanterelle until the frosts.

Northern Finland & Lapland

The autumn ruska season in August–October is prime foraging time.

Only pick mushrooms you can identify, and always check the species against a reliable mushroom guide. Some species must be parboiled before use.

Tip: clean mushrooms already in the forest and keep them in an airy basket – in a plastic bag they spoil quickly.

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Kantarellit

5,00 € / Litra

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Pickup · Rauma Mei H

Kantarellit

8,00 € / l

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Pickup · Hollola Oona Mäkinen

Suppilovahveroinen sienisuola

8,90 € / kpl

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Crayfish season starts – when can you catch crayfish?

21 Jul–31 Oct

In Finland the crayfish season starts each year on 21 July at 12 noon and ends at the end of October (31 Oct). The best catches fall in August–September. The 2026 crayfish season follows the same statutory window.

Season by region

Southern Finland

Best catches in August–September.

Central Finland

August–September, when the waters are warmest.

Northern Finland & Lapland

A shorter season, weighted towards August.

Crayfishing always requires permission from the owner of the water area – everyone's right does not cover crayfishing. Check the minimum size and any catch restrictions by area.

Tip: fresh crayfish is boiled alive with dill – a classic for the August crayfish party.

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Berry guides

Go deeper into wild berries: species identification, picking rules and everyone's rights, preservation, and poisonous species.

Edible wild berries 12 productive berry species with identification marks: where to find them and when to pick – from wild strawberry to crowberry. Picking & everyone's rights What everyone's rights allow and what they don't – and how to pick clean berries that keep well. Preserving, use & nutrition Freezing, drying, fresh crush and jams with basic recipes – and why berries belong in every day's diet. Poisonous berries Learn to recognise lily of the valley, bittersweet nightshade, baneberries and herb Paris. What to do if you suspect poisoning.

Frequently asked questions about the harvest

When does bilberry ripen in 2026?

Bilberry ripens in southern and central Finland from mid-July and peaks from late July to mid-August. In northern Finland the harvest starts 1–2 weeks later, in early August. According to picker reports (8 July 2026), bilberries in Central Finland are still unripe – ripening will take another week or two.

When can you pick bilberries?

Ripe bilberries may be picked under everyone's right as soon as they ripen, in practice from mid-July. Picking does not require the landowner's permission.

When does crayfish season start in 2026?

The crayfish season starts on 21 July 2026 at 12 noon and runs until the end of October. Crayfishing requires permission from the owner of the water area.

When can you find chanterelles?

Chanterelles can be found from July to October, and the best time is August–September. A rainy late summer produces the most abundant harvest.

When is cloudberry season in 2026?

Summer 2026 is early: on open bogs in eastern and central Finland ripe cloudberries have been picked since early July, and treed bogs ripen about a week behind. On Lapland's bogs the harvest falls from late July to early August. In Kainuu and near the eastern border the crop is weak in places due to cold rains during flowering. The season is short, only about two weeks.

When can you pick lingonberries?

Lingonberry ripens in late August and peaks in September. Picking often continues into October, and night frosts sweeten the berries.

When does mushroom season start in Northern Finland?

In northern Finland the mushroom season starts in August and continues into October. The funnel chanterelle can be found until the first frosts.

Can you pick berries in anyone's forest?

Yes. Wild berries are covered by everyone's rights, so they may be picked without the landowner's permission – but not in yards, plantations or cultivated fields. If you pick for sale or in large quantities, it is good practice to ask the landowner.

How do I preserve berries for the winter?

Freezing preserves nutrients best, and berries keep in the freezer until the next harvest season. Lingonberry, cranberry and cloudberry also keep as a cold crush without sugar thanks to their natural benzoic acid. Other options are drying, juices and jams.

Order the harvest fresh – straight from the forager

Willit connects the foragers, fishers and small producers of the North with you. See what's in season near you right now, and order it fresh to your home or pickup point.

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