This year, the Austrian kiwi berry harvest began in the second week of August, earlier than ever before. "Due to the late frosts and the subsequent heat, I would categorise the season as mediocre. Compared to a normal harvest year, this year's yields are around 30 per cent lower," says Johannes Pankarter, Managing Director of Kronprinz Fruchthandels GmbH and specialised kiwi berry producer.
This year's kiwi berry harvest started around two weeks earlier than last year.
Pankarter has been growing mini kiwis for ten years now. The niche crop is now grown on a total of around five hectares (mainly in Styria). The cultivation capacity has remained almost the same recently. Pankarter: "Our kiwi berries are produced exclusively for the Austrian domestic market, i.e. the food retail programmes. Domestic kiwi berries are now listed in most well-known food retail chains and are therefore an integral part of the seasonal range." Current prices are slightly above last year's level, which is due to inflation and further cost increases.
This year's season is already in the final spurt, continues Pankarter. "We will be able to offer kiwi berries from our own cultivation for around three more weeks, similar to other years. The marketing window is around six to seven weeks, which hasn't changed significantly since the beginning." Apart from the three main varieties, new varieties are constantly being tested. The plants are propagated in-house. "The ideal variety would be one that produces a good yield in extreme weather conditions, is visually appealing and has a good Brix content and flavour. Unfortunately, we have not yet found the ideal one."
For more information:
Johannes Pankarter
Kronprinz Fruchthandels GmbH
Wolfgruben 5
8211 Ilztal, Austria
Tel: +43 3112 21 666
[email protected]
www.kronprinz.cc