Germans harvest almost 40% more cherries than last year

Last year Germans consumed on average 2.1 kilograms of cherries per person, reports the German website Proplanta.de. Per person cherry consumption has been stable for the past few years (2012: 2.3kg, 2011: 2.1kg, 2010: 2.3 kg). In 2013 in Germany sweet cherries and sour cherries grew on 7,400 hectares of land.

The cultivation of sweet cherries increased by approximately 5,200, taking up most of the 7,400 hectares. Baden-Württemberg is by far the main crop area with 2,000 hectares of sweet cherries, Niedersachsen follows with 500 hectares.

In 2013 Germany harvested sour cherries on approximately 2,200 hectares. The biggest cultivation areas were in Rheinland-Pfalz (more than 600 hectares) and Sachsen (more than 500 hectares)

Right now the the cherry harvest is in full swing. Fruit growers are counting on a good harvest year: due to the mild and dry spring an estimated 51,900 tons of cherries are expected. This is 38 percent more than the previous season. The 2013 harvest produced only 37,523 tons due to poor weather conditions. The harvesting period for cherries usually runs from June to August.