The fruit tree area in Switzerland decreased slightly in 2013 compared to the year before, reports the German Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft (AMI) on its website. According to the Swiss federal service for Agriculture tree fruits are being grown on an area of 6,407 hectares this year. This is 2.1% less than in 2012. The decrease was mainly in apples and pears.
Apples are by far the most important fruit tree variety in Switzerland. They take up 62% of the total fruit tree area in 2013 with 3,993 hectares. However, compared to last year the cultivation area decreased by 3.5%. The cultivation area of pear also decreased in 2013. At 768 hectares it decrease by around 3%.
But there were also fruits for which the area increased. Apricots, for instance, were grown on an area of 702 hectares in 2013, an increased of 1% compared to last year. The cherry area also grew by 3% to 547 hectares.