The first numbers of the local summer fruit harvests are good. Although they don’t quite reach the levels of last year, the farmers are satisfied with the quality.
The beginning of the strawberry season in May was influenced by cold weather, but the warm weather in June secured a good harvest, reports the Swiss Fruit Union in its magazine "Fruit & Vegetables". The demand was lower than the large supplied quantities, causing greengrocers and supermarkets to reduce the prices. In addition to this, the bad weather initiated the end of strawberry season. 5,700 metric tons of strawberries were sold, compared to 7,000 metric tons in 2014.
Raspberries have suffered less from the fluctuating spring weather and although the fruit found it very hot in the beginning of July, large losses are not to be expected and the harvest has started.
Special measures have been taken to protect the cherry harvest, for instance against threats like the cherry fruit fly. The first estimates had to be lowered, but in the second half of June the quantity of the harvested cherries increased quickly. There is a difference between the cherries that grow protected and those that grow in the open air. The protected cherries suffered less from the fluctuations in temperature and weather.
The cherries in the open field did suffer from these circumstances and are smaller and there are fewer cherries. The quality remained good and the fruit can easily be sold.
The apricot harvest is, due to the good weather, satisfactory and should reach a total amount of 7,700 metric tons.
The start of the plum harvest is very good and a decent harvest of 1,000 metric tons is expected.
Source: www.lid.ch