Strawberry season begins with high prices in Helsinki

By admin On Jul 2, 2025

Strawberries for sale at the Market Square in Helsinki. Photo: Elsa Paakkinen / Lehtikuva

Strawberry harvests have started across Southern Finland following a cool and rainy start to summer. Prices remain high, especially in Helsinki, according to sellers in several cities.

Market vendors in the capital are charging between €10 and €12 per litre. Matti Rissanen, selling in Hakaniemi market square, said customers were shocked by the cost. “But they seem to understand. They’ve gone through the same cold and rain,” he said.

Prices were lower outside Helsinki, though still elevated compared to previous years.

In Lappeenranta, strawberries were priced between €8 and €10 per litre. Rattiya Thongphaijit from Ratjan Marjator said box sales had not yet started.

In Turku, prices ranged from €7 to €9. Jukka Jokinen from Paavuori farm said their five-kilogram boxes cost between €40 and €45.

In Kuopio, prices ranged between €6 and €6.50 per litre. Esa Honkanen, who sells a variety of berries, said the season had started well. “People know that costs are up, and that sellers need to earn a living,” he said.

Honkanen priced five-kilogram boxes at €40 to €45.

Oulu recorded the lowest prices in Yle’s informal survey. There, strawberries cost €5 to €7.50 per litre. Riikka Hyväri, a berry seller in the city, said her stock was selling out quickly. “All the berries that have arrived have so far been sold,” she said.

Harvesting is now active in Southern and Southwest Finland, Häme, Pirkanmaa, Satakunta, and the southern parts of Eastern Finland.

Heidi Wirtanen, head of the Finnish Association of Fruit and Berry Growers, said that the early rain may have delayed harvests but improved flavour. “The strawberries are particularly sweet right now,” she said.

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi