2024 will be a good year for plums. The harvest prospects are excellent: the Swiss Fruit Association (SOV) expects a production of around 3,700 tonnes. By 9 September, over 500 tonnes of Swiss plums will be harvested every week. In order to market so many plums, good co-operation between production and trade is required.
The first varieties of Swiss plums were already harvested in July - but the harvest of the best-known variety, Fellenberg, will now begin in mid-August. This year's overall harvest should be pleasing: with an estimated harvest of 3703 tonnes, the Swiss Fruit Association is expecting a good harvest that is a good 26% above the five-year average. The main harvest will take place between calendar weeks 31 and 36, when Swiss plum producers will harvest over 500 tonnes of the sweet and sour fruit, including, of course, the most popular variety Fellenberg.
Cooperation with trade and retailers all the more important
A large harvest places equal demands on all players in the fruit industry. In order to market this quantity, good co-operation with the trade and retailers is required. Until the beginning of October, it is now important to utilise the domestic plum supply and make it palatable to consumers.
Swiss plums soon even more sustainable
Consumers can already pay attention to the origin of plums when buying them and thus do something good for the environment. Domestic plums are characterised by short transport routes and are sold freshly harvested. From 2025, plums will become even more sustainable - they can then be produced under the measures of the "Fruit Sustainability" industry solution. This pays into the three pillars of sustainability and was already introduced for dessert stone fruit in 2022.
Effective crop protection is essential
Even if the harvest prospects are currently excellent, there are also small pests that can make life difficult for producers of plums. The pest pressure on plums is particularly high due to the so-called plum moth. The caterpillar of this small butterfly bores into the fruit, causing the plums to ripen prematurely and fall to the ground. Despite preventative measures, considerable damage can occur. Last year, the Swiss Fruit Association attributed around 30% of crop losses to the plum moth. Effective crop protection is essential to ensure that you don't experience a blue miracle when enjoying your plums.
Source: Swiss Fruit Association