For almost three weeks now, apricots have been diligently harvested at the Kiefer fruit farm in the heart of the Ortenau. "We are about ten days behind with all crops, but the yields are quite good," says owner Matthias Kiefer, who grows plums as well as currants, peaches and table cherries on about 80 percent of his land.
Fresh local apricots from the Ortenau. Right: the Vanilla Cot variety
This year, the Ortenau fruit growers are having a particularly hard time with the drought. Kiefer: "We have about 90 percent of our area under irrigation nowadays, and this trend will also continue among our colleagues in the region in the coming years. Without irrigation, at least in our growing area, you don't stand a chance these days, as the rainfall we were used to until a few years ago is increasingly concentrated in the cold season."
Insight into the plum orchard
This has prompted the fruit-growing expert, who also runs a tree nursery, to restructure his business in recent years. "Until a few years ago, we marketed almost all our yields through OGM Mittelbaden. Since there are hardly any German apricots and peaches in cultivation, the demand for our fruit is high and marketing is relatively easy." The apricots and peaches are grown on about four hectares, after which they are marketed either through the farm's own farm sales or to surrounding farm shops. The apricots are harvested by the end of July - beginning of August.
Matthias Kiefer between the apricot trees
Plums & Currants
On 27.6, the first early plums of this year's season could also be picked, Kiefer continues. "Our plum campaign usually lasts until mid-late August. Stable, medium-sized fruits are still by far the most sought-after varieties, especially in the wholesale trade. However, it is noticeable that plums with a higher Brix content are extremely sought after. Unfortunately, there are still many varieties that are harvested and marketed blue, although they are not yet physiologically ripe. I guess there will be some varietal innovations in the coming years."
The seasonal product range of the fruit farm is rounded off by currants. "We have already been working with currants in the nursery and then decided to produce the berries ourselves. In order to achieve the best possible added value, we have clearly specialised in the early area. This means we are now already close to the end of the season so that we can seamlessly follow the plum harvest."
Images: Kiefer Obstwelt GmbH
Further information:
Matthias Kiefer
Kiefer Obstwelt GmbH
Allmendgrün 20
77799 Ortenberg
T: +49 1578 4542423
m.kiefer@kiefer-obstwelt.de
matthias.kiefer@fairfruit.com
https://www.kiefer-obstwelt.de/