Strawberry farmer fights: new varieties and old enemies threaten the harvest!

Strawberry farmer fights: new varieties and old enemies threaten the harvest!

Things are going strong in Angelbrechting because farmer Hans Schimpf has fulfilled a dream: the passionate strawberry farmer started growing the sweet fruits over 35 years ago. His childhood dream lives on in the field near Poing. But not everything is rosy, because this year there is a stubborn soil fungusVerticillium, making life difficult for his strawberries. His strawberry field always remains closed, which represents a big challenge for Schimpf.

In order not to be left behind as a strawberry farmer, Schimpf has specialized in new, promising strawberry varieties. With a clever mix of early and late-bearing plants, he does everything he can to extend the season. So he benefits from the delicious, early ripening onescorona-strawberries and the particularly sweet onesMarika-Berries that reach their peak in late summer. These varieties are not only different in taste, but also very diverse in their uses - some are ideal for cakes, while others are eaten fresh.

New farming methods

In order to defy the current challenges, Schimpf has changed his cultivation methods to the most modern Frigo strawberries. These flash-frozen seedlings are more robust and offer a wider selection of varieties. There is also extensive information about the different strawberry varieties Strawberry lexicon, which provides detailed information on properties, flavor variations and possible uses.

Schimpf has also learned from his experiences and plans to stop growing potatoes in his strawberry fields in the future. The potatoes had a negative impact on strawberry growth, making it difficult to harvest. A strategic move to steer his business in the right direction and maximize the sweetness of strawberries.

Harvesting and marketing

But how is the strawberry harvest handled overall in Germany? In 2024, over 78,600 tons of strawberries were harvested in the wild on approximately 8,470 hectares, while protected cultivation areas on 2,050 hectares produced some 41,750 tons. Local strawberries are particularly in demand, although only around 41 percent of demand is covered by German production. A large part is imported, especially from Spain and other southern European countries. This shows how important local products are and how much consumers value the quality that comes from home-grown production.

Strawberries are very popular in Germany, and annual per capita consumption was 3.3 kilograms. Many may not know that botanically speaking, strawberries are collective nut fruits and belong to the rose family. The variety of over 1,000 strawberry varieties offers something for every palate, from firm-fleshed fruits that survive transport to juicy, aromatic varieties. Unlike imported strawberries, which often have a longer shelf life, local strawberries offer an unsurpassed taste experience and are full of vitamins and minerals.

Hans Schimpf shows what it means to stand up for agriculture with heart and soul. Despite all adversities, he announces that he will continue his mission and continue to focus on the strawberries from Angelbrechting. If everything goes well, he will soon be able to offer fresh, sweet strawberries again and make his customers happy.