Growers in Rhineland-Palatinate grew about 1,550 metric tons of soft fruit in 2016. An increase of 10% compared to 2015 according to the Statistical Office. The acreage increased by 40 hectares to 303 hectares.
The largest surface, 160 hectares, is used for growing elderberries. About 530 metric tons of elderberries were harvested, which is nearly 28% less compared to 2015. Not only the elderberries, but also 4.4 metric tons of elderberry blossoms were harvested. Other varieties of great importance are red and white currants grown on 52 hectares and raspberries cultivated on 40 hectares. About 350 metric tons of the currants and 360 metric tons of raspberries were harvested in 2016.
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The cultivation of soft fruit has increased slightly in recent years. However, in Rhineland-Palatinate it still is a niche product. In 2015 Rhineland-Palatinate was the ninth largest grower of soft fruit in German, measured by the cultivation area. The largest soft fruit acreage, 2,074 hectares, is in Lower Saxony.
34 of the 59 farms cultivate soft fruit on surfaces smaller than 2 hectares; the total of the surface cultivated by these farms is 36 hectares. The nine largest farms grow soft fruit on more than 10 hectares per farm, a total of 185 hectares combined.
