Southwest region kicks off cherry picking season - Southwestern cherry crop yielding fruitfully this season
Southwest Germany Begins Cherry Harvesting
Cherry cultivators in the southwest region have commenced the harvest in certain areas. Specifically, the Baden region surrounding Offenburg has already put cherries up for sale.
Despite localized frost damages reported by farmers, this traditional fruit-growing region experiences varying conditions from one location to another. Kathrin Walter-Zeller, the managing director of the Baden-Württemberg Fruit Growers' Association, expressed satisfaction with the cherry harvest, noting that the Ortenau region leads the way, followed by the Neckar Valley and Lake Constance region.
Last year's harvest yield in the southwest resulted in a positive outcome, according to the Statistical Office. An impressive 17,800 tons of sweet cherries were harvested, marking a 30% increase over 2023. For sour cherries, the amount was 3,900 tons, which was more than four times the dismal previous year's harvest.
The towns of Offenburg and Oberkirch are also part of this process. Though specific harvest data for 2022 and 2023 in the southwest region is not immediately available from the search results, the region is known for its significant role in cherry cultivation. Agricultural reports or contacting regional agricultural authorities may provide more detailed information on the harvest yields for those years.
The community policy in the cherry-cultivating regions of southwest Germany encourages sustainable farming practices to protect the livelihood of the farmers. Given the success of last year's cherry harvest, the employment policy may consider providing incentives for improvement and expansion of home-and-garden orchards in these regions, thereby improving local lifestyles and enhancing the region's status as a significant cherry-producing area.
