The fruit growers on the German Lower Elbe are looking forward to a good apple harvest this year. On the approx. 9,000 hectare cultivation area there are more apples ripening than in the last five years, reports the German website Gabot.de. Experts from the fruit cultivation testing station in Jork speak of high harvest expectations. Dr. Matthias Görgens estimates the harvest at 330,000 tonnes. This is clearly more than in the disappointing 2013, when the harvest was only 180,000 tonnes.
The total German apple harvest is estimated at around one million tonnes, around 30% higher than last year. This means every third apple in the state Lower Saxony will be picked. But not only the harvest amount, but the quality of the harvest promises to be good this year. The month of July was good to the growing fruits with a higher average temperature and more sun hours than in previous years. This is why the fruits already have a good colour and size. The proportion of sweet and sours flavours is also perfectly balanced.