Historical apple harvest in Brandenburg: Losses of 80 percent expected

Historical apple harvest in Brandenburg: Losses of 80 percent expected

crop failures in Brandenburg shape the fruit industry

The fruit growers in Brandenburg are faced with an alarming situation this year. Thanks to unforeseen weather conditions, especially late frost, the Berlin-Brandenburg Statistics Office expects drastic crop losses in apples and other types of fruit. These circumstances have an impact on the producers, but also on consumers and the regional economy.

unusual harvest forecasts

The current forecasts indicate a decline in the apple harvest by more than 80 percent. While around 18,000 tons of apples were still harvested last year, only 3,200 tons could be reached this year. This represents the lowest yield per hectare since 1991 and is a direct result of the late frost experience at the end of April when the plants were already in full bloom.

A look at the overall situation of the fruit harvest

The predicament does not only affect apples: the situation is also extremely critical of plums. Only 184 tons are estimated, which is a deep difference to the previous year. The strawberry harvest also suffered from the unfavorable weather conditions, while cherries also have losses of around 80 percent. Agriculture Minister Axel Vogel (Greens) has promised the affected fruit farmers about three million euros in aid to counteract the damage caused.

The challenges for the industry

Although Limburg, Märkisch-Oderland and Frankfurt (Oder) offer ideal conditions for fruit growing, the Brandenburg companies are often small. The widespread practice that larger providers from other federal states and from abroad dominate market prices makes it difficult to remain competitive. The annual weather fluctuations also represent a serious risk. The combination of sandy soils and a comparatively dry climate often leads to a lack of water that negatively influences the yield.

effects on consumers

For consumers, the unfortunate harvest means that Brandenburg apples will be found less frequently in the supermarket. Since the region is traditionally an important source for apple products in Berlin, the local market is increasingly influenced by apples from other growing areas and imports. This not only has an impact on the availability of fresh apples, but can also affect the prices.

a regional problem with national dimensions

The nationwide trend shows that apple production focuses in the main generation areas such as Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony. There, the farmers benefit from better climatic conditions and a larger acreage. The disparity in the harvest between Brandenburg and the rest of Germany is significant, since only a decline of the apple harvest is forecast by 22 percent in Germany. This presents the existence of the fruit growers in Brandenburg with serious challenges.

The crop failures in Brandenburg are not only a sign of the fragility of regional agriculture, but also lag a light on the effects of climate change and the need to find more sustainable solutions. The coming months will be decisive to better understand the exact consequences of this harvest crisis on the local economy and the community.