After bitter losses due to the cold weather in spring, producers are expecting higher prices for their fruit. As warm as it currently is in many places in Germany, it was just as cold only two months ago. The sudden frost hit the fruit trees hard - and tarnished the expectations of farmers. Now the consumers can feel it too.
"The price for cherries has to rise and it will rise," the German press agency was told by the vice president of the federal specialist group for fruit cultivation, Franz-Josef Müller.
In Baden-Wuerttemberg, one of the main cultivation areas for cherries in Germany, growers are expecting losses of 80% compared to previous years. The reason: many cherry blossoms died during the frost period in April.
Due to the shortage at the market, higher prices are inevitable. Even more so, because the farmers have to try and cover their own financial losses, says Müller. The representative of the industry assumes a clear increase of prices. One kilo of cherries, which is usually sold for 4 to 8 Euro, could now be sold for 6 to 10 Euro.
According to the Agricultural Market Information Association (AMI), the rise in imports from Turkey made the average price for consumers decrease by 23 Cent to 5.03 Euro per Kilogram in June. This includes cherries from supermarkets and discounters.
"The shortage will definitely influence the prices when buying straight from the producer, in specialty shops or at the farmers market; those places usually sell the most German products," says specialist Hans-Christoph Behr.
Due to the shortage at the market, higher prices are inevitable. Even more so, because the farmers have to try and cover their own financial losses, says Müller. The representative of the industry assumes a clear increase of prices. One kilo of cherries, which is usually sold for 4 to 8 Euro, could now be sold for 6 to 10 Euro.
According to the Agricultural Market Information Association (AMI), the rise in imports from Turkey made the average price for consumers decrease by 23 Cent to 5.03 Euro per Kilogram in June. This includes cherries from supermarkets and discounters.
"The shortage will definitely influence the prices when buying straight from the producer, in specialty shops or at the farmers market; those places usually sell the most German products," says specialist Hans-Christoph Behr.
Simply put: Consumers won't notice much of the shortage in supermarkets and at discounters, because large parts of the supplies are imported. Imports 'jumped' according to AMI in 2016. In 2017 this trend could continue.
Farmer's representative Müller is worried about the shortages for two reasons. Firstly, the situation for many growers is tense to begin with. Secondly, because the domestic cultivators could lose market shares to foreign competitors. As soon as trade partners are found and supply chains are developed, it is hard to reclaim the market share, says Müller.
There are a few other regions in Germany which grow cherries, aside from Baden-Wuerttemberg. Rhineland Palatinate has had a similar fate. Bavaria, especially the Lindau and Franconia regions have reported severe losses.
In Lower Saxony, the situation is calmer, since the trees were not in full bloom during the frosty days in April. Frost is not an issue for cherry trees prior to blooming. Generally, according to a survey conducted by Agricultural Market Information Association among producer associations, the volumes are expected to be half of what they usually are.
In some parts of Germany, the cherry harvest has begun already, the last trees should be finished in August. In 2016 the yields in Germany were approximately 45,000 tons. Two thirds are sweet cherries and one third sour cherries. The amount of imports was about as high.
Source: Proplanta
Source: Proplanta