The apple harvest is in full swing in large parts of the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). The German apple harvest as a whole looks set to be a good one, at around 1 million tons (+15%), and meets with a receptive market. Climatic conditions and fruit set were good. After last year's early start to the harvest, a normal start is expected this year. However, there are exceptions, as harvest forecasts for individual regions show.
Altes Land:
This season, the Altes Land region expects an above-average apple harvest, as announced at the official start of the season on August 29 at the Obsthof Blohm. An estimated 319,000 tons are to be harvested from the trees. This is about seven percent more than the average for the past year, says Matthias Görgens, deputy head of the Obstbauversuchsanstalt Jork (Jork Fruit Growing Research Institute). Last year, the yield was significantly lower at 250,000 tons due to frost during the flowering period. This year, the situation is quite different due to mild temperatures during the flowering period.
Lake Constance:
Fruit growers on Lake Constance expect a harvest of around 227,000 tons of apples this year (FreshPlaza reported), which is a slight decrease compared to last year but still around 9,000 tons more than in 2023. The quality is very good, with a balanced sugar-acid ratio and good firmness. Initial impressions from the organic orchards on Lake Constance are also promising. "We expect a very good harvest, as in the previous year. The EU harvest forecasts also confirm that organic farming is growing, not only in terms of consumption but also in terms of production in many countries," reports Obst vom Bodensee. More than 20 percent of the cultivated area in the entire Lake Constance region is now cultivated according to organic standards.
Saxony:
Saxony's fruit growers are also expecting a good apple harvest this year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the harvest is estimated at just under 47,000 tons – significantly more than last year, when late frosts meant that only around 5,460 tons could be harvested. "When Saxony's fruit growers start picking apples in the coming days, they will be harvesting the work of an entire year, which involves the passion of many people and also a piece of their homeland," said Agriculture Minister Georg-Ludwig von Breitenbuch.
Styria:
Top-quality produce. The orchards of Styria are a hive of activity. The main harvest began on August 20 with the Gala and Sweetango varieties. This year's harvest is expected to reach 142,000 tons, after falling by almost half last year due to late frosts. The quality of the apples is at a peak this year: the many hours of sunshine have brought the aroma, color intensity, and shelf life to a top level. The drought reduced fruit growth in some cases, but on the positive side, the aroma and nutrients are even more pronounced.
Due to crop failures, wage issues, and other factors, the area under apple cultivation in Styria has shrunk by 1,500 hectares, and one in five businesses has had to cease production. "This is a massive setback – an exceptional situation that apple producers are currently facing," emphasizes Maria Pein, Vice President of the Chamber of Agriculture. "In recent years, many farms have had to live off their reserves, postpone investments, or give up farming."
Brandenburg:
The harvest of strawberries and apples in Brandenburg will be significantly lower than in 2024 because many blossoms froze in May. More detailed results will be presented by the heads of the State Farmers' Association and the Brandenburg Horticultural Association, Henrik Wendorff and Klaus Henschel, on Thursday in Teltow (Potsdam-Mittelmark).
