Blueberries flower in southern Finland
With temperatures surpassing the 20-degree mark across much of southern Finland, blueberries have begun flowering along the edges of forests and in open areas.
Experts say that after a mild autumn and a snowy winter, this summer should produce a bumper crop of the indigo-coloured berries, unless there are late frosts.
Finnish Forest Research Institute researcher Kauko Salo says blueberries will begin to flower deeper inland in the coming days.
In addition to risking frost damage, blueberry growers can also see a dent in their crop from a lack of pollinators. Some years insects don’t have enough time to pollinate the blueberries if they flower very early.
Latest in: News
Talvivaara mine stains river orange
The mine has been involved in a string of environmental mishaps -- and PR fiascos -- for more than six months.
Moomin ceramics tempt shoplifters
Police say that housewares depicting the denizens of Moominvalley are in high demand -- including among thieves.
Finland ranks mid-table in EU beach cleanliness
Finland ranks among the EU’s top 10 countries when it comes to purity of bathing waters – but just barely.
April unemployment at 8.8%
The unemployment rate in Finland declined slightly in April to 8.8%, down from March, but still higher than a year previously.
Company exploiting foreign workers up for Helsinki contract
Work-safety inspections this year at about 20 small and medium-sized cleaning companies that employ immigrant workers have discovered problems at every firm checked. Yle has found that the City of Helsinki is considering contracting services from a company that was determined to have employment rules violations.
Spanish nurses leaving Vaasa
Five of eight Spanish nurses recruited to work in Vaasa's city hospital have decided to quit the jobs they took up in October and leave the country. The reasons they cite include the high cost of living, the cold climate, and the difficulty of the Finnish language.
Toxic spill in Helsinki's Mätäjoki River
A chemical discharge into Helsinki's Mätäjoki River has killed fish and possibly wiped out years of efforts to revive spawning grounds for endangered species.
Sikh bus driver fights for right to wear turban
Managing diversity in Finnish workplaces is raising new issues for employers, unions and workers themselves. One Sikh bus driver in Vantaa is currently fighting to set a precedent allowing him to wear a turban.
Veolia drivers to return to work
Bus drivers working for the Veolia company will return to work on Tuesday, bringing their week-long work stoppage to an end.
Finnish traffic cops set to miss out on Gumball speeding fine jackpot
Several contestants in the Gumball rally were stopped for speeding on Monday, on the Turku-Helsinki leg of their unorthodox race. Police say that despite their concerns, the drivers are likely to escape Finland’s hefty income-based fines.
