Frost damage announce lower apple harvest in Hesse
Frost damage announce lower apple harvest in Hesse
Apple harvesting in Hesse with challenges
The Hessian fruit growing is faced with significant difficulties this year. The Hessian Farmers' Association estimates that the apple harvest is expected to be lower than usual. This situation not only has an impact on farmers, but could also affect consumer prices.
Weather factors influence yields
A central reason for declining apple production is the late frost at the end of April, which brought temperatures of up to minus seven degrees. Agricultural scientist Esther Wernien explains that this frost is responsible for considerable damage in the fruit facilities. Trees that are in shady valleys or cooler layers are often more affected, which leads to heavily fluctuating crop results within a municipality.
"Later frost has devastating effects on the harvest, and in some valleys there were hardly any apples on the trees," emphasizes Wernien. These cooler microclimata are a challenge for farmers because the opportunity to protect the trees from frost is often limited. Artificial irrigation measures that are supposed to protect by the formation of an ice layer are not applicable everywhere.
Long-term effects and improvements
In addition, the continued and frequent rain contributes to the development of fungal diseases such as Apfelvania, which further tightens the situation. "This could be a serious problem in some regions," warns Wernien. Nevertheless, there is hope that some farms can still get a normal or satisfactory harvest, while others have to expect massive crop failures.
Market situation under a magnifying glass
For consumers, the question arises as to what effects these harvesting fluctuations could have on the availability and prices of apples. According to Wernien, there will continue to be apples from both Germany and regional origin, but the crowd could decrease due to the lower harvest. This may also be reflected in the prices that could increase.
beginning of the harvest
The harvest of the early apple varieties has already started in Hesse. According to data from the State Statistical Office of Hesse from 2022, about half of the fruit area in Hesse is planted with apple trees. Farmers and consumers are now looking forward to the further course of the harvest and the future market situation.
conclusion
Overall, it can be seen that the Hessian fruit growing is in an insecure location. While some farmers may be able to expect an average harvest, many others are threatened by harvest losses. The coming months will be decisive for how the situation on the apple market will develop and what steps the farmers can take to secure their income.