In 2017, nearly 260,000 field hectares – over 11% out of the total cultivated area – were cultivated organically. There was about 4600 organic farms.
Finland produces a significant amount of organic crops, both for foodstuffs and fodder. The most important livestock products are milk, eggs and beef.
The world’s largest area, which is certified for organic wild food collecting, over 12 million hectares of forests and peat bogs, is a Finnish specialty. Bilberry and lingonberry are the most important wild foods.
In 2017, the market share of organics in the retail was 2.3% and the value of the sale of organic in grocery stores reached 309 million euros.
The biggest organic sellers are fruit, milk and other dairy beverages, and vegetables. These three product categories represent more than a third of all organic sales. Hot drinks, that is, coffee and tea, are the fourth biggest sellers, followed by eggs at number five.
Approximately 40% of professional kitchens in Finland use some organic ingredients weekly. The most commonly used organic products in professional kitchens are cereal products, vegetables and fruits and berries.
Export of organics
The amount of organic exports is estimated to be quite small, approximately 1% of all Finnish food exports – no statistical data is available. The most important exported products are organic oat and the products made of it, such as flakes and flours. In addition, Finland exports organic flours made of rye, wheat and potato, as well as bread, wild berries and licorice.