Fruit growing - Miserable cherry harvest in Bavaria
The cherry harvest in Bavaria is expected to have miserably failed this summer, according to a preliminary estimation by the Bavarian Statistics Office: Approximately 1.93 million kilos of cherries will be harvested by the cherry farmers - that's 31% less than last year. Some cherry farmers are still in the process of harvesting.
The reasons for the poor yield are clear: In the spring, there were frost damages, later heavy rain and hail destroyed many fruits. In some cases, there were total failures, it was reported.
Since cherry farming is so heavily influenced by the weather, the harvest quantities fluctuate strongly from year to year. In 2018, there was an exceptionally good harvest with over 4 million kilograms. However, only 1.87 million kilograms were harvested two years later. The Bavarian Statistics Office calculated an average of 3.06 million kilograms for the past six years. The current year's harvest is expected to be around 37% below this average.
Famous for cherry farming is above all the Franconian Switzerland: The region in the tri-city area of Bayreuth-Nuremberg-Forchheim is one of the largest contiguous cherry growing areas in Europe with around 250,000 cherry trees on 25 square kilometers. It is mostly sold through a cooperative to the trade - a part of the fruit is also marketed directly, for example at the weekly markets of the region or at the farm sales or at roadside stands. Another focus of cultivation is in Unterfranken.
The State Office's estimation suggests that the State Office of Statistics in Bavaria anticipates a significantly lower cherry harvest this Spring, with only 1.93 million kilos expected compared to last year's 2.82 million kilos. Despite the ongoing harvest in some areas, the impact of frost damage, heavy rain, and hail has resulted in numerous total crop failures. Agriculturally rich regions like Fürth in Bavaria, known for its fruit growing, are also affected by this year's poor cherry harvest. The current harvest is expected to significantly impact local cherry farmers and the food industry in the region, as cherries are a vital component in various food products.
