Cranberry harvest draws crowds to Estonian bogs

Cranberries are plentiful in Estonia’s bogs this year, drawing large numbers of pickers, ERR reports. Heavy rain has left some bogs very wet, while other areas have been picked clean near their edges, forcing people to travel farther for berries.

Cranberry researcher Kristel Vilbaste said the abundance had brought many pickers to bogs, particularly those near large cities. In Laeva bog, she said, the areas closest to the edges had already been cleared. Vilbaste also reported that buses of Latvian pickers were visiting Nigula bog, a protected area near the Latvian border, where she said the berries had been picked over.

Pickers have also been arriving in numbers at Emajõe-Suursoo bog, some by boat. Berry picker Jekaterina said she collects five or six buckets for herself and her children, but finds it difficult to walk out of the bog. Tauno Laasik, who promotes Peipsi food, said boats were arriving daily. Some pickers gather berries as a hobby, while others rely on the income for the winter. Experienced pickers can collect as much as 100 litres a day, he said.

Laasik said boats make it easier to carry large amounts of cranberries out of the bog. The water level in Emajõe-Suursoo is low this year, but it may still be difficult to leave with dry feet. Vilbaste said other bogs have much more water.

Vilbaste advised pickers to wear longer rubber boots and bring reflective gear, as searches for people often begin in the dark. She also urged them to look back before entering a bog and note a tall tree or other landmark to help find their way out.