Berries

Marja Bothnia Berries Oy Ltd is a company located in the Kvarken Archipelago World Heritage area.

"Approximately 65 % of Finland is covered by forest, which gives us good possibilities to pick wild berries in Finland."

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Long and bright northern summer days help ripen delicious wild berries out in the forests and bogs, and everyone has the right to collect them, irrespective of land ownership.

Even in the years of “bad” crops, there are about 100 kg or approx. 200 litres of wild berries in the forests per each Finn.
Approximately 65 % of Finland is covered by forest, which gives us good possibilities to pick wild berries in Finland. However, only a small part of the berries are picked each year. 

Marja Bothnia Berries Oy Ltd´s main products are IQF bilberry ( vaccinium myrtillus) and IQF lingonberry (vaccinium vitis idaea). Our company sells yearly appr. 1500-2500 MT of bilberries and 2500-4500 MT of lingonberries. Other berries that we offer are IQF crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), IQF rowanberry (sorbus aucuparia) and block frozen cloudberry (rubus chamaemorus). 

Our company sells also small quantities of berry pomaces that are created as a side product from our sister company´s juice production.

LINGONBERRY

Lingonberry grows on dry forest soil, typically in pine forests and lichen heaths, where the undergrowth is not very dense. Lingonberries are ready for picking in late August, and the season lasts until the end of September.

Lingonberries are used in cooking as different kinds of jams, jellies and juice. Sharp tasting lingonberry juice can be served with meals, and due to its distinct flavour. Lingonberries can be preserved simply in their own juice, since the berries contain all the natural acids and sugar needed.

Lingonberries are very rich in vitamin A and C, and they also contain minerals such as manganese.

BILBERRY

Bilberry needs more water and richer soil than lingonberry, and it can typically be found growing in spruce forests. The shrubs are light green, and the berries on the shrubs are dark blue.

Bilberries are ready for picking in late July and the season lasts until the beginning of September. Freshbaked bilberry pie is certainly one of the best loved Finnish delicacies. Bilberry juice can be served with meals and it is also used to bring down fever in case of flu.

Bilberry is very rich in carotene, vitamin B6 and manganese, and the berries also contain as much as 22mg/100g of vitamin C.

SEA BUCKTHORN

Buckthorn can be found on the Åland Islands and open shores of the Baltic Sea. Buckthorn grows in large, impenetrable bushes.

The juicy, orange berries are very tightly attached to the twigs, and they come off easily only after the first cold nights in October. Buckthorn berries are very rich in vitamin C: 200 mg/100g.

They also have carotene and vitamins B, E and K. Buckthorn berries give about 400 kJ of energy per 100 gram of berries. Because buckthorn berries contain lots of malic acid, they have a sour, sharp taste.

CLOUDBERRY

Cloudberry grows in distant swamps and deep forests, mostly in northern Finland and Lapland. The berries are ready for picking around mid-July or early August.

Cloudberries are at their best when served fresh, for example on pancakes or waffles with some ice cream or whipped cream. The food industry uses cloudberries in yoghurts, and one of the specialities of Finnish distilleries is a brand of fine sweet liqueur made from cloudberries.

Cloudberries are usually preserved by freezing, boiling or as juice. The fresh berries are very rich in vitamin C (100 mg/100 g).

CROWBERRY

Crowberry grows in all parts of Finland. The light green shrubs with black berries grow on dry heaths on hills and in raised bogs, and even in the barren peatlands and fields of Lapland.

The season for crowberries begins in July and lasts until the first snow, and the berries can even be picked in the spring after the snow has melted. Crowberries are used in jellies and soups.

The berries have hardly any natural acids, and because of that crowberry jelly or juice goes excellently with other, more sour berries.

CRANBERRY

The cranberry grows in all parts of Finland with the exception of the northernmost reaches of Lapland. Cranberries can be picked from the end of September until the first snow and then again from under the snow in spring.

It is worth picking cranberries also after the first sub-freezing temperatures of autumn as well as in the spring, when their sugar content has risen and they are less acidic.

Like most berries, the cranberry is a good source of vitamin C. Because of its tough skin, the cranberry is also a good source of fibre.

Cranberries are used in berry soups, porridges, casseroles and baked goods.