The cherry harvest has now begun in the later-ripening areas of northern Germany. "We were able to offer the first cherries from our own protected cultivation in the Altes Land region in week 27," reports Christian Bohn, managing director of Gerkens Fruchtgroßhandel GmbH, based at the Hamburg wholesale market. Similar to almost all other growing regions, initial forecasts indicate average to good quantities and consistently outstanding quality. "In terms of marketing, the frost-related losses in Greece and Turkey are, of course, playing right into our hands. This will be particularly noticeable in the later stages," Bohn continues.
© Hugo Huijbers | FreshPlaza.com
Left: Kordia cherries are currently being harvested, Regina (right) will be ready in about a week. Center: Christian Bohn during FreshPlaza.de's visit to the wholesale market in 2022.
Poor yield prospects for Regina
Over the years, the family-run fruit farm based in Großenwörden has specialized primarily in the cultivation of late cherry varieties, mainly Kordia and Regina. "This has enabled us to establish a good market outside our catchment area, especially in southern Germany. When the harvest there has already peaked, we usually start our main harvest." From the end of July, shipments to other regions usually pick up gradually. Prices are still being determined, adds Bohn. "Good prices are currently being paid for nice, thick 28 to 30+ calibers. Currently, we therefore assume that prices will remain at around the same level as last year for the rest of the season."
"Unfortunately, the yield forecasts for Regina, our most popular variety for shipping outside the region, are not particularly good. Accordingly, we expect to deliver less to the south this year," adds Dirk Bohn, who is responsible for cultivation and supplies his brother Christian with produce from his own farm. Producer prices are also too low in relation to the renewed rise in production costs.
Total crop failure for apricots, good plum harvest expected
With around 80 percent of the total area under cultivation, the fruit-growing business focuses primarily on top fruit. However, stone fruit cultivation has also proven to be an important and growing pillar of the company, confirms Bohn. "We will start this year's plum harvest in weeks 29/30, about a week earlier than the long-term average. We are seeing good fruit set on early varieties such as Cacaks Fruchtbare, so we expect a correspondingly high yield here. For later varieties such as Presenta and Haroma, however, the forecasts so far have been rather bad."
Bohn has also been growing apricots for several years. "We also produced these under protected cultivation until the plastic sheeting broke in February 2024. Despite the lack of sheeting, we had a good apricot harvest last summer with pleasing quality. So this year, I wanted to test whether the apricots would also work in the open field without crop protection. Unfortunately, however, most of the apricot buds froze in February, so we are likely to suffer serious losses."
© Obsthof Bohn
The signs so far point to a good stone fruit harvest. The Bohn fruit farm produces apple varieties such as Elstar, Aldiamo, and Wellant.
Reorganisation of the farm
Bohn will gradually restructure its operations in the coming years. "In the medium term, we will add the late cherry variety Finals to our portfolio. In addition, we will expand the area under cultivation for the two varieties Cacaks Fruchtbare and Presenta while reducing the cultivation of domestic plums slightly. Furthermore, we have been experimenting with nectarines and peaches for several years and are quite satisfied with the results so far. We have now selected very good varieties and are just waiting for land to become available," he concludes.
For more information:
Christian Bohn
Gerkens Fruchtgroßhandel GmbH
Wholesale Market Hamburg
Tel: 0049 4775-771
[email protected]
www.gerkens-fruchtgrosshandel.de
Dirk Bohn
Obsthof Bohn
Im Strich 5
21712 Großenwörden
Tel: 04775 771
[email protected]
www.obsthof-bohn.de
