This year's plum harvest in Germany is imminent: from July onwards, local stone fruit is coming back on the market. Unlike the plum year of 2016, with a crop of almost 38,000 tonnes, 2017 was a sad year for fans and producers of the blue stone fruit. Because of the strong spring frosts, heavy rainfall and hail, only 23,885 tonnes were harvested in Germany in 2017 - 14,000 tonnes less than in the previous year.
This year, however, the outlook is "plum blue" again for the Herrmann, Katinka, President, Cacak's Beautiful, St.Hubertus or Auerbacher, Bühler Plum, Ortenauer, Presenta and the Hauszwetsche; some of the best-known native varieties.
Above-average harvest in the south and east
The season of domestic fruits has started even earlier this time due to the long period of hot weather and it is currently gaining momentum. The main growing areas of the beautiful blue fruits traditionally are Baden-Württemberg followed by Rhineland Palatinate, Bavaria and Brandenburg, where this time an above-average harvest -plus 25% in the south and plus 21% in the east- is expected.
Source: Pressebüro Deutsches Obst und Gemüse