In Salem (Lake Constance) on Sunday afternoon, a short but heavy hailstorm devastated several orchards. On a strip of a few kilometers, large parts of the fruit harvest were damaged by the 1.5-centimeter thick hail stones, the local media reported.
"We still have some hope that part of the devastated volumes can be used as fruit," says a concerned producer from Salem-Beuren, who has already protected a substantial part of his plantation (26 hectares of apples) with hail nets. Up to 80 percent of its total area fell victim to hail. Although the weather has partially demolished the ro
bust nets, the farmer believes in the effect of this protective solution. "No hail nets, no future. There are also hail guns here in the region: In my opinion, investing in hail nets is the only good solution that exists at the moment," he informed FreshPlaza.
Impairment of modern fruit growing
Uncomfortably, the grower observes how climate change affects modern fruit cultivation across Europe. "It's getting worse every year. It is not just about showers and thunderstorms, but also about the significant influence of temperature fluctuations and night frosts. This bothers growers in all major growing areas in Germany, as well as abroad."