Fruit growers throughout Europe have started harvesting much earlier than usual, including those growing mirabelle plums. In the Swiss canton of Schaffhausen -close to the German border- growers are currently in the harvest phase and the local market is flooded with local produce.
Large falling yield
"We have been offering regional produce since this week, about two weeks earlier than usual," says Dominik Eggli, owner of the fruit trade of the same name in the Swiss state of Baden (canton Schaffhausen). '' The quality of the goods is very convincing and we expect a large yield this year. Furthermore, we have the advantage that we do not sell the regional products through the trade and their prices are therefore stable. ''
Large falling yield
"We have been offering regional produce since this week, about two weeks earlier than usual," says Dominik Eggli, owner of the fruit trade of the same name in the Swiss state of Baden (canton Schaffhausen). '' The quality of the goods is very convincing and we expect a large yield this year. Furthermore, we have the advantage that we do not sell the regional products through the trade and their prices are therefore stable. ''
End of season
The fruit grower delivers his mirabelle plums primarily to restaurateurs and hotels in the immediate vicinity. And although the French epicentre of mirabelle production is quite close, these regional products are very much appreciated by Swiss customers, says Eggli. However, it is still a seasonal commodity, whose season will soon be over again. ''We assume that we can offer regional mirabelle plums for about 2 to 3 more weeks. Then we will see if there are any alternative suppliers from whom we can still get some.''
Giant harvest in the Saarland
In Saarland, too, growers are looking forward to an above-average harvest, and the local farmers even speak of a mirabelle glut. "There have never been such quantities," says a local producer from Fremersdorf. This year, the trees were almost collapsing year under the weight of the fruit, just in time for last weekend's local Mirrabellenfest. There was certainly a reason for the fact that many larger branches had to be supported.
Niche fruit
Mirabelles are niche fruits. Fruit growers are growing the yellow-orange fruits throughout Switzerland on just 7 hectares. Even in Germany, there are only a few sales cooperatives that are heavily into the cultivation and marketing of these yellow products. The most famous variety of mirabelles has always been the mirabelle from Nancy, which is grown in and exported from France on a grand scale.
Mirabelles are niche fruits. Fruit growers are growing the yellow-orange fruits throughout Switzerland on just 7 hectares. Even in Germany, there are only a few sales cooperatives that are heavily into the cultivation and marketing of these yellow products. The most famous variety of mirabelles has always been the mirabelle from Nancy, which is grown in and exported from France on a grand scale.
Learn more about German mirabelle cultivation?
Read our recent article about the sales cooperative VOG Ingelheim.
Read our recent article about the sales cooperative VOG Ingelheim.
For more information:
Eggli - Gemüse und Früchte
GF: Dominik Eggli
Murtenstrasse 28
3282 Bargen
032 392 12 66