Riitan Herkku
Riitan Herkku
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Riitan Herkku Scandinavian Wild Forest Berries offer healthy and high-quality
choice for those who appreciate pure flavors from Finland.
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They deal the most valuable Finnish berries in several countries all over the
world.
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As an expert in commercial berry picking they can always guarantee the best
quality and assortment.
General information
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Riitan Herkku was founded 1986
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Riitan Herkku is a family company
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Riitan Herkku export berries all over Europe (Germany, Austria, Belgium,
France)
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Riitan Herkku has about 100 employees
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Riitan herkku employs around 400 foreign workers during the summer months
to pick berries
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They have a turnover of over 26 million euro
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Berry pickers from Thailand, Mongolia and Russia comes to Finland to pick
berries
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They have companies in Ostrobothnia, Lapland, Lahti, Russia and Latvia.
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Also cooperation with factories in other European countries
Berries?
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The berries are full of vitamins and antioxidants which are good for your health
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They have a natural source of vitamin C
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The most usual ways to preserve the berries are by freezing or drying or as
puree or juice
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These berries can be used to make hot berry soup, yoghurts, drinks, etc.
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The berries are used as ingredients both in foods, but also other kinds of
products
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In Asia the berries are used in pharmaceuticals, and in France they are used in
cosmetic products

95% of the berries are exported to European countries mostly
Different sorts of berries
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Bilberry (wild)
(cultivated)
Cloudberry
Lingonberry
Raspberry
Buckthorn
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Blueberry
Picking the berries
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Pickers from Thailand, Mongolia, Russia, Estonia, Poland, etc.

In Thailand the farmers earn 1 euro a day, while when being here picking
berries they earn 500 euros a day in general

The farmers don’t have any work in their home country during the summer
months, this is a good way to earn money for the family. The rice is growing
during these months and they have to wait until the rice has grown

The berries can be picked anywhere from above Tampere, but most of the
berries are picked in Lapland
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The pickers are paid by the kilo, which means they can work as much as they
like.
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The price paid is around 1€/kilo for bilberries, 4,5€ /kilo for cloudberries and
80 cents per kilo for lingonberry.
Berrypicking Championship
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Berrypicking championship are held in the summer
Pickers try to pick as much lingonberry as possible in one hour.
Most foreign contestants are from Japan, but there are also people from many
other countries