In 2020, there were significantly fewer foreign berry pickers who went to Sweden than in previous years - partly due to the fact that Thailand had introduced emergency permits, which made it difficult for many to get their residence permits ready.
"Maybe not the optimal"
This year, it looks like there will be over 5,000 foreign berry pickers in the Swedish forests, which is like a normal year.
The year before the pandemic, there were about 6,000 berry pickers.
- It may not be optimal, but we have no other way to supply the industry with berries at present, says Anders Vestin, berry entrepreneur in Arvidsjaur.
Did well despite fewer berry pickers in 2020
Anders Vestin does not believe, however, that the increased number of berry pickers will mean any spread of infection.
- We did not have a single positive corona case, he says.
Despite the fact that there were significantly fewer berry pickers last year when the pandemic broke out, the industry did quite well, according to Vestin.
- It was an extremely good bearing year last year.
Hear him tell more about the situation around berry picking and covid-19 in the video above.