Improved yield of 450,000 tonnes in 2025 surpasses projected estimates
Germany's Wild Fruit Harvest Predictions for 2025: A Promising Outlook
The German Fruit Juice Industry Association (VdF) has released its predictions for the wild fruit harvest in 2025, and the news is promising, particularly for cherries.
Klaus Heitlinger, the Managing Director of the VdF, emphasizes the importance of wild fruit orchards as a valuable ecosystem, hosting over 5,000 animal and plant species. He is pleased with the predicted harvest, which he believes will be a significant boost for the industry.
The VdF uses the canopy density survey to estimate the wild fruit harvest for 2025. This survey, conducted by the Competence Center for Fruit Growing at Lake Constance, targets five sections and counts the apple canopy in the tree. The survey has been carried out by the VdF for pome fruits for 30 years.
Statistically, wild fruit harvests are weaker in odd years than in even years. However, the late frost in 2017 and the favorable regional conditions in recent years have contributed to a more positive outlook for 2025.
The yield capacity of wild fruit has suffered significantly in recent years due to drought in the dry summers between 2019 and 2023. Nevertheless, more and more trees are severely damaged due to insufficient water supply and their age of over 70 years.
The projected wild fruit harvest for 2025 stands at 450,000 tons, according to the VdF. In Baden-Württemberg, which accounts for 50 percent of Germany's wild fruit production, harvest prospects are good in the Swabian Jura, while they are rather below average in Upper Swabia.
The wild fruit harvest predictions for Germany in 2025, particularly for cherries, indicate an above-average yield. The cherry harvest is projected at around 49,900 tons—41% higher than 2024 and 10.4% above the ten-year average. Factors positively affecting the yield include favorable regional conditions such as those reported in Thuringia, where sour cherry yield is forecasted at 10.4 tons per hectare, surpassing the long-term average.
Preservation efforts for wild fruit in Germany likely revolve around managing harvests to optimize quality and market value. The high yield forecast for 2025 has led to expectations of good returns, with efforts by producers and agronomists to harvest efficiently at scale. However, the contrasting decline in sweet cherry yields indicates an area where preservation and cultivation techniques might be further optimized.
Contact details for Klaus Heitlinger, the Managing Director of the VdF, are as follows: Mainzer Straße 253, D-53179 Bonn, telephone: +49 2 28 9 54 60-0, mobile: +49 171 7 70 12 46, email: [email protected], website: www.fruchtsaft.de.
Wild fruit orchards are of great importance to fruit juice lovers due to the diversity of fruit varieties and their unique taste variations. Special offers such as wild fruit apple juices, quinces, and pear juices are very popular. The canopy density survey helps ensure the relevance of wild fruit through harvest recording.
Monitoring of weather patterns and adaptive agricultural practices remain crucial for sustaining and improving yields and quality. The high yield forecast for 2025 has led to expectations of good returns, with efforts by producers and agronomists to harvest efficiently at scale. However, the contrasting decline in sweet cherry yields indicates an area where preservation and cultivation techniques might be further optimized.
The promising outlook for Germany's wild fruit harvest in 2025, particularly for cherries, could potentially impact the German Fruit Juice Industry, given the significant boost expected in production. Recognizing the importance of conservation, Klaus Heitlinger, the Managing Director of VdF, aims to optimize harvesting methods in order to preserve Wild fruit varieties and ensure high-quality products, while also increasing the industry's revenue through efficient harvesting at scale.
