Wild, cultivated & organic: what is the difference?

As interest in health and sustainability grows, so does the use of terms like wild, cultivated, and organic. While they all sound natural, they don’t mean the same thing—especially when it comes to berries. This blog helps clear the confusion by exploring how these categories differ and what each means for the berries you enjoy.

Cultivated vs. wild forest berries

Some of the berries—like bilberries and cranberries—grow wild in forests but also have cultivated counterparts. These farmed varieties are developed to produce higher yields, making them more widely available and often more affordable.

A great example is the blueberry, a cultivated cousin of the wild bilberry. While blueberries are larger and easier to grow in bulk, wild bilberries are known for their richer nutritional value and flavor.

Research shows that bilberries can contain up to four times more anthocyanins—powerful antioxidants—than cultivated blueberries. You can even spot the difference in this image: blueberries (right) are yellowish inside, while bilberries (left) are deep blue throughout.

Wild berries thrive naturally without fertilizers or pesticides, often resulting in higher concentrations of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Many people also prefer the richer, more intense flavor of wild berries, which can be influenced by the short and intense Nordic growing season.

Are wild berries automatically organic?

It is easy to assume that wild means organic, but that is not always the case. While wild berries grow without human intervention, they are only considered organic if they are picked from certified organic forest areas.

For wild berries to be labeled organic, the forest land itself must be certified by an accredited organic body. This means:

• No fertilizers or pesticides are used
• The landowner has formally committed to organic practices
• All handling from picking to processing is traceable and separate from non-organic batches

Certification ensures full transparency. A neighboring forest might produce equally clean berries, but without certification, those berries can not carry the organic label - even if they’re just as pure.

So which berries to choose when buying berry powders?

• If you value certainty and traceability, organic berries give you peace of mind.
• If you trust your supplier and value Finland’s reputation for purity and high standards for food safety, non-organic wild berries are just as good for you.

At Natural Nordic, we offer both options — certified organic and wild non-certified. Whichever you choose, you’ll enjoy the same rich flavor and natural nutrition from the Finnish forests.