“As of this season peaches and nectarines from Bodensee region”

The German Bodensee region has been one of the most important production areas for the German apple branch for years. Annually, tonnes of top fruit are grown here, which is sold using the sales cooperatives located in this region. However, for some years now an interesting development has been taking place: more and more growers have started specialising in the production of stone fruit. Not just cherries and plums do particularly well on the shores of the Bodensee, apricots, nectarines and (Weinberg) peaches are now also for sale on the local market.

For the majority of the growers in the Bodensee region, the high season is now gradually starting, because the apple harvest starts as usual in August. For Heinz Martin, of the fruit production company of the same name, apples were the main product by far for many years. After son Alexander received his ‘Horticulture’ bachelor degree, and because of increasing competition of foreign growers, the experienced grower completely switched with his company. Since then he has had a mixed plantation with cherries, aronia berries, plums and even nectarines and peaches. “Two years ago we planted round peaches, Weinberg peaches and nectarines on about one hectare. Because of the frost, we couldn’t harvest last year, but this season we sold our first peaches. The flat Weinberg peaches in particular are doing well,” Heinz says.

While he still sells his top fruit via the local sales cooperative, consumers either buy his stone fruit directly at the farm from a 24H vending machine or via local resellers. “Being local is clearly our strong point,” Heinz says. “Because we’re the last to start the stone fruit season every year, we can get better prices. Considering we’ve been protecting our plantation with modern film for the past 15 years, we can let the fruit ripen better, even in the current heat. After all, our goal is to offer customers maximum quality. According to current prospects, we’ll be able to harvest the flat peaches for two more weeks. The peaches with red flesh, on the other hand, can be sold until late September.”