Although everyone involved expected an early start to the apple harvest in advance, the start of the harvest in the Alte Land has been delayed. In the meantime, this year's harvest campaign is nearing completion. "We have consistently harvested fruit of very good quality and ideal caliber. The transition from the old to the new harvest was also optimal this year. As a result, we encountered an open market, which allowed us to place the early apples and first storage varieties very well. The acreage of early apples is relatively constant. The remaining main variety in this segment is Delbarestivale," says Jürgen Schliecker, fruit wholesaler and managing director of the company of the same name with locations in Jork and at the Bremen wholesale market.
Market prices have so far been adequate for producers, Jürgen Schliecker continues. "Fortunately, the current prices cannot be compared with those of last year, which were simply ruinous and capital-consuming. If we had a situation this season comparable to last year, there would certainly have been extensive producer deaths. Most of them simply would not have survived. While there are some fruit farms that have ceased operations due to the cost situation, other growers stopped primarily for age reasons, due to a lack of successors.
"However, the huge cost increases in minimum wages as well as energy costs have accelerated this process." The increase of the truck toll to December 1, which is almost a doubling, will have an additional massive impact," says Jürgen Schliecker.
Strong price competition on the fruit shelf
According to Jürgen Schliecker, it is particularly difficult to pass on the additional costs to retailers and ultimately to consumers. "Due to the general cost increases and the associated lower budgets, many consumers react very price-consciously. If the sales prices at the POS become too high compared to alternative products, a clear reluctance to buy is felt. This was the case in the past season. Apple prices were under extreme pressure and were no longer reasonable, as bananas and imported soft fruit were in plentiful supply and were therefore offered at very low prices. In the meantime, prices for these product groups have fortunately returned to a reasonable level. In autumn, there are traditionally many consumers who buy apples from their own gardens. Therefore, from experience, we can assess more accurately from mid-November how the consumer will react to the current market development."
View of the family-owned company's headquarters in Jork, in the heart of the Alte Land region. It also operates a branch at the Bremen wholesale market.
Rethinking the pome fruit sector
Among the many new varieties grown in the Alte Land, Wellant in particular has quickly established itself in recent years, according to the fruit wholesaler. "The area under cultivation has been significantly increased due to the very good demand. The Wellant is not only characterized by its excellent taste and good tolerance. Its excellent shelf life allows apple lovers to enjoy their favorite apple 12 months a year. Particularly in the summer months, it represents a real taste alternative to the previously dominant Jonagold group, whose sales are declining anyway. Otherwise, Elstar, with its balanced sugar-acid ratio, remains the top variety par excellence and the flagship on the apple shelf."
Although the Alte Land is predestined for apple cultivation, pear cultivation has also been gaining in importance again for several years, he said. "There is currently a rethinking taking place and the consumer is more and more fixated on pears. Here in the Alte Land, for example, pears of the Conference variety are planted to a limited extent, as well as club varieties such as Xenia. There are also trials with various red-skinned varieties. We are still in a kind of discovery phase, because now we have to determine the best varieties for our climatic conditions so that we can gradually expand pear cultivation in the coming years."
According to Jürgen Schliecker, crisp, juicy fruits with a balanced taste are particularly in demand today. Nevertheless, consumer demands on apples vary greatly from region to region, he said. "While apples with "character" are more popular in northern Germany, i.e., with a slightly sour note, the south tends to prefer the sweeter variety, such as Fuji."
Images: Schliecker Fruchtgroßhandel
For more information:
Jürgen Schliecker
Schliecker GmbH & Co. KG Fruchthandels KG
Osterjork 30
21635 Jork
Tel: 04162-90010
Fax: 04162-900150
Großmarkt Bremen
Tel: 0421-551710
Fax: 0421-556661
[email protected]
www.schliecker-fruchthandel.de