Frama Bilberry

Series of postal labels

The year 2003 brings the start of a new nice three-year series of postal labels (Frama) depicting berries. First of all we take a trip to the forest to pick bilberries.

In the Finnish woods

On average 500-1000 million kilos of edible berries mature in the Finnish woods every year, of which only some five per cent are harvested. Bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) make out a large part of these. Depending on the supply of berries around 3 million kilos of bilberries are picked in our country, mostly for commercial sale. The rest is food for animals or fall to the ground.
The Bilberry is one of the most common plants of the Nordic countries, and it also grows in most of Europe as well as in large parts of Asia. It is a perennial deciduous shrub. The plant flourishes in early summer, while the fruit itself ripens in July-August. The bilberry sprigs may reach a height of seven decimetres, but they are usually much smaller.

Fruit enjoyed in many ways

The fruit may be enjoyed in many ways. Apart from eating them raw, the berries are well suited for different pastries like the irresistible bilberry pie. Bilberry is also excellent for jams, syrups and soups or why not also for the making of wine and liqueurs. However, fresh berries are sensitive to transportation. To preserve them it is better to freeze them and next time use only the quantity needed.
Issue: Aland, 9 May 2003