Frosty nights in April: fewer Saxon apples expected

Due to the consequences of the frosty nights in April, Saxon apples are in rather short supply this year, especially in supermarkets. "It's a little better than expected, but still catastrophic," said Udo Jentzsch from the Saxony & Saxony-Anhalt Fruit Growers' Association. For both fruit-growing regions, he expects a yield of "not much more than ten to 15 percent". In a normal harvest, the total is 70,000 to 80,000 tons, around 70,000 tons of which are in Saxony.

Saxon apples probably only in farm shops

For the direct marketers it will be enough this time too, they will pick their own apples and offer them in the farm stores, "it will be worth it for them", said Jentzsch. "There will hardly be anything from the region in the retail sector." He also expects apple prices to be slightly higher overall, as other growing regions in Germany and Europe have also experienced frost and are expecting slightly lower yields. "At the very least, there will be significantly less supply."

According to Jentzsch, the Pinova variety had a second bloom, "that's where most of the apples are". A second harvest two or three weeks after the fruit from non-frozen blossoms cannot be ruled out. The yield also depends on the variety. "Jonagold doesn't really have anything on it, Boskop will hardly have anything, Braeburn very little, Gala has a little bit, Idared and Pinova tolerated it best, Champion too, there will be relatively large fruit."

According to Jentzsch, the first apples of the early varieties have already been picked. This means that the harvest has started almost two weeks early. In view of the situation, fruit growers who produce for the food trade are refraining from doing so, although some may also sell to direct marketers.

Lower yields for strawberries and cherries too - hardly any plums on the trees

The situation is hardly any different for other fruit varieties. Only the strawberry yield is "still satisfactory", but at around 40 percent of normal, it is significantly lower, partly due to the repeated wet weather, said Jentzsch. There were a few cherries, "in the homeopathic range". However, "contrary to expectations", they had coped better with the weather. The expected quantity of around 100 tons is also well below the normal level of 500 to 800 tons. "And there are only a few plums hanging on the trees, which is only five percent of the usual yield."