This report summarizes the results of the 2022 German deciduous and stone fruit tree census and focuses on developments in the planted varieties of apples and pears. Since the 2017 census, total planted area decreased by 1.45 percent, and 9.2 percent of German fruit farms ended operations. Apples continue to be the most planted fruit trees and account for 67 percent of total fruit tree area, followed by sweet cherries, plums, and pears. The area planted with tree nuts is negligible but growing.
In terms of area, apples are by far the most important deciduous fruit species in Germany, and account for about two-thirds (33,106 ha) of total German deciduous fruit area. Following in area are sweet cherries (5,736 ha), plums (4,139 ha), pears (2,069 ha), sour/tart cherries (1,567 ha), and walnuts (734 ha).
From 2017 to 2022, the reported figures show a 2.6 percent decrease in total apple area and significant changes in variety shares. The 2022 survey reports on 78 different apple varieties that are currently grown in Germany. Most of these varieties have a limited or regional importance. Only 25 varieties are grown on more than 100 ha each, less than ten cover more than 1000 ha. More than half of the area (53 percent) is covered by one of the top five varieties. The top 10 varieties take up 66 percent of the area.
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Source: fas.usda.gov