In the summer of this year, German orchards experienced a below-average cherry harvest, significantly less than initially estimated. According to the final estimates from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) as of August 20, a total of 40,200 tons of cherries were picked. Compared to the above-average yield of 48,700 tons in 2022, this represented a decrease of about 8,500 tons, or 17.5%.
It was also 14.7% smaller compared to the average yield from 2013 to 2022, which was 47,100 tons. The initial preliminary estimate made on June 10, 2023, had projected a harvest of 45,400 tons. The lower cherry harvest was attributed to factors such as an early flowering season, late frosts in certain regions, which negatively affected the fruits, as well as pest infestations and local storms with heavy rainfall leading to reduced yields.
The final estimate for the sweet cherry harvest in 2023, according to Destatis, was 32,400 tons, which was 6,100 tons, or 15.9%, less than the previous year and 900 tons, or 2.8%, less than the ten-year average of 33,300 tons.
Sweet cherries are cultivated on a total of 5,700 hectares in Germany, with Baden-Württemberg being the largest state with 2,600 hectares and harvesting over 42% of the popular fruits, totaling 13,800 tons. Niedersachsen ranked second with 5,000 tons of sweet cherries from 500 hectares, followed by Rheinland-Pfalz with 2,800 tons from 700 hectares.
Read the full article: Fruchthandel
09 May 2025
Spanish cherries are conquering China as a symbol of luxury and prosperity. Thanks to e-commerce, emotional marketing, premium quality, rising demand, social media, and packaging, Spain has a unique chance to stand out in China’s highly competitive fresh premium cherry market.
20 Aug 2025
A research project across the Balkans investigates the genetic and reproductive traits of cherry cultivars to boost pollination, heat tolerance, and yield. The discovery of new S-alleles and genetic diversity offers solutions for climate-resilient, sustainable cherry production.
06 Jan 2026
A new study proves the effectiveness of nanostructured coatings made with chitosan and alginate enriched with pomegranate peel extract. Treated cherries stay fresh for up to 20 days, with reduced spoilage and improved nutritional and commercial quality.
06 Jan 2026
The high production of cherries in Chile requires new storage strategies. A study evaluates the use of controlled atmosphere on different varieties, analysing the impact on quality, physiological disorders and post-harvest damage while awaiting the packaging process.
