Swedish Berry Industry Faces Crisis Amid Severe Labor Shortages
The Swedish berry industry is facing a crisis due to severe labor shortages, risking unharvested berries and rising prices.
- • Severe labor shortages threaten berry harvests in Sweden.
- • Only a fraction of Thai workers are allowed to pick berries this season.
- • Harvesting may drop from 7-8% to just 1-2% compared to a normal year.
- • Industry representative warns of significant economic losses if situation is unaddressed.
Key details
The Swedish berry industry is grappling with a significant crisis as an abundance of berries, particularly blueberries and cloudberries, goes unharvested due to a severe lack of labor. Industry experts are sounding the alarm over the drastic shortage of berry pickers, specifically Thai workers, whose numbers have been drastically limited this season. Warnings have been issued that while a typical year sees about 7-8% of forest berries harvested, this year's figures could plummet to a mere 1-2%. Fredrik Reinholdsson, a representative for the berry industry, stressed the urgency of the crisis, stating, "No one is caring for these berries," highlighting the risks of losing a substantial portion of the harvest if the labor situation does not improve. The current circumstances underscore the need for immediate action to prevent significant economic losses for the sector.