Are the lingonberries overripe, or just right for picking?

These are lingonberries, and the berries look ripe rather than overripe. They are evenly red to dark red and still appear firm. I cannot see the usual signs of overripeness: shrivelling, leaking skins, browning, soft collapse or mould.

Early September in Västernorrland, Sweden, is also a perfectly reasonable picking time. If you want firmer lingonberries for jam, jelly or freezing, you can pick them now. To check them in person, ripe berries should come away fairly easily but still feel springy rather than mushy.