In 2021, just under 45,600 tons of bush berries were harvested in Germany on an area of 9,440 hectares. While the area under cultivation remained almost constant compared to the previous year, the harvest volume increased by 27 %. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) further reports that the more favorable weather conditions in 2021 compared to 2020, which was characterized by late frosts and drought, were the main reason for the significant yield increases. The data also shows that 2021 was a special harvest year: never since the survey began in 2012 have so many bush berries been harvested, reports the Federal Statistical Office.
Cultivated blueberries with largest share of harvest volume
Cultivated blueberries were again the most important berry species in Germany in 2021, with an area under cultivation of 3,360 hectares (+2% compared to 2020). Its cultivation accounted for 36% of the shrub berry area and 34% of the harvested volume. At approximately 15,600 tons, 38% more cultivated blueberries were harvested than in 2020.
In second place after cultivated blueberries were red and white currants with a harvest volume of 8 800 tons (+18% compared to 2020). For raspberries it was 7 000 tons (-2%), and for black currants 5 000 tons (+11%).
Berry cultivation in greenhouses further expanded
Greenhouses and other high accessible protective covers accounted for just over 6,200 tonnes (14%) of the berry crop in 2021. This was 9% more than in 2020, and the area under cultivation was also further expanded by 7% to 520 hectares. The fact that cultivation under high accessible protective covers has gained enormously in importance is particularly evident when compared to 2012. Since the first berry survey, the protected area has increased almost fivefold, starting from 110 hectares.
Cultivation under high protective covers is mainly used for the very sensitive raspberries, which accounted for by far the largest share of cultivated areas under protective covers in 2021, at 80%. The yield per hectare here was 11.6 tons, some three times higher than the 3.6 tons per hectare for raspberry cultivation in the open.
Area share of organic berry production increased from 23 to 31% since 2012, yield increased from 9 to 16
Farms with fully organic production produced 16%, or just over 7,100 tons, of Germany's 2021 berry crop. The organic acreage of 2,940 hectares represented 31% of the total berry acreage. In 2012, the share of organic acreage was still 23% and 9% of the crop came from fully organic cultivation.