Due to extreme weather conditions, blueberry producers in the Lüneburg Heath region are looking back on a rather difficult harvest year. "The first few weeks after the harvest began on June 18 were still okay. Then in July, it rained continuously, followed by extreme heat with temperatures of up to 38 degrees Celsius, causing most of the berries to become mushy. This also contributed to disappointing harvest results for the later varieties," summarizes Andreas Finck, blueberry producer in Gerdau, Lower Saxony.
As a result, Finck ended this year's harvest at the beginning of August, around three weeks earlier than usual. Only small quantities of Liberty and Legacy will be picked for the farm shop's own use until the end of week 34. "This is very painful for us as a medium-sized fruit-growing business. The consequences of climate change are sometimes extremely difficult for us. We have already reduced our cultivation capacity several times in recent years and will reduce our plantation by a few hectares again, as it is simply no longer worthwhile. In the worst case, we will have to give up our blueberry business completely in the future. We have the advantage that we do not have to live exclusively from fruit growing," says Finck, who also runs a forestry business, among other things.
© Finck Heidelbeeranbau
Good demand for loose blueberries
In contrast to the harvest, this year's marketing season will be remembered as particularly good. Finck: "Poland delivered very little this year, and there were also significant volume losses in Romania, which had a correspondingly positive effect on demand for regional blueberries. This, in turn, meant that we were able to deliver a lot of loose produce to food retailers' packaging plants this year, which is rather unusual. Demand at the Hamburg wholesale market, normally our main sales market, has declined somewhat this year. The trend here seems to be downward, which is probably because blueberries are gradually developing from a seasonal product into a year-round item."
© Finck Heidelbeeranbau
Finck markets about half of his yield loose, while 40 percent is sold as packaged goods. Around 10 percent is sold through the company's own farm shop until the end of August, primarily in 500 g or 1 kg baskets (made of cardboard or wood pulp). The price level has been good and stable throughout the year. "Due to the overall tight supply situation, producer prices have not fallen below EUR 4/kg this year until the end of the season, whereas last year we were at EUR 2.40/kg in some cases."
© Finck Heidelbeeranbau
Variety range and harvest workers
A total of around a dozen blueberry varieties grow and thrive on the Finck farm in the heart of the Lüneburg Heath. "Our main variety is still Bluecrop, although Topshelf is currently catching up fast," says the producer, who emphasizes the importance of the first phase of the season. "We would like to start the season a little earlier, but this is becoming more difficult due to a shortage of staff, especially as most of the harvest workers are needed in June for the final spurt of the asparagus harvest. So far, however, we have been spared any major staffing problems. In addition to harvest workers from Poland and Romania, we were also able to welcome workers from Uzbekistan for the first time this year, which has worked out well for everyone involved."
For more information:
Andreas Finck
Finck Heidelbeeranbau
Tel: +49 163/8361251
Lindener Weg 11
29581 Gerdau
[email protected]
