German fruit growers are expecting a far below-average apple harvest of around 734,000 tonnes in 2024. According to an initial estimate published by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) in July 2024, this means that 261,300 tonnes (-26.3%) fewer apples are expected to be harvested than the average of the last ten years. This means that 2024 is expected to be the lowest apple harvest since 2017 (596,700 tonnes). The apple harvest in 2024 is also expected to be significantly lower than the previous year's low harvest - by 207,600 tonnes (-22.1%) according to initial estimates.
The reason for the low harvest expectations of German fruit growers is primarily unfavourable weather conditions, which are expected to result in significant harvest losses of up to 90% compared to the ten-year average, especially in the south-eastern German states. In spring, late frosts and hail led to frost damage and poor fruit set in many orchards. As vegetation progressed, cool, damp weather and heavy rainfall in some regions had a negative impact on fruit development and favoured the occurrence of diseases.
Despite the very low harvest expectations, apples remain by far the most harvested tree fruit in Germany. In 2024, apples will be produced on an area of 33,000 hectares nationwide, of which 11,600 hectares will be in Baden-Württemberg (Lake Constance region) and 8,400 hectares in Lower Saxony (Altes Land). As an extremely low harvest is expected in Saxony, the third largest apple-growing region with 2,300 hectares, three quarters of all apples are expected to be produced this year in Baden-Württemberg (42.9 %) and Lower Saxony (32.1 %) on 60.5 % of the area under cultivation.
Plum and prune plum harvests expected to be 17.6% below ten-year average
This year's plum and prune plum harvest of 37,100 tonnes is expected to be 7,900 tonnes (-17.6%) below the average of the last ten years of 45,000 tonnes. Last year's harvest was already comparatively low at 43,800 tonnes. Due to the unfavourable weather conditions for this fruit, German growers expect this year's harvest to be another 6,700 tonnes (-15.3%) lower than last year.
This year's harvest estimates vary greatly from region to region, depending on the growing region. In almost all federal states, expectations are significantly lower than in previous years. Due to late frosts during the flowering period and the rainy spring, many orchards suffered considerable damage and even total losses. Only in Baden-Württemberg, the most important federal state for the cultivation of plums and prune plums with 1,700 hectares, is a harvest of 21,700 tonnes expected, well above the ten-year average (+29.5 %). Fruit growers in Rhineland-Palatinate, the federal state with the second-largest plum cultivation (900 hectares), expect a 39.9 % lower harvest volume (6,600 tonnes) than the average of the last ten years. Mainly due to the positive harvest estimates in Baden-Württemberg, fruit growers in these two federal states are expected to harvest 76.2 % of plums and prune plums in 2024 (on 63.1 % of the German area under cultivation), while farms in other regions are likely to suffer significant harvest losses. Nationwide, plums and prune plums are currently produced for market fruit cultivation on an area of 4,100 hectares.
NRW: Halving of the harvest compared to the previous year
Fruit farms in North Rhine-Westphalia expect an apple harvest of around 36,500 tonnes in 2024. According to preliminary estimates by the North Rhine-Westphalia State Statistical Office, the harvest volume will almost halve compared to the previous year (2023: 71,600 tonnes). The yield of 18 tonnes of apples per hectare is the lowest since 2017, when blossom frosts in April destroyed large parts of the harvest. Blossom frosts also occurred in NRW in April 2024. In addition, consistently high rainfall this year favoured fungal infestation and other diseases.
This year's sweet and sour cherry harvests are also expected to be lower than last year at 780 tonnes and 140 tonnes respectively (2023: 1,040 tonnes and 180 tonnes respectively). The harvest volume of plums and damsons will fall to 3,400 tonnes (2023: 4,300 tonnes) and of mirabelle plums and renegades to 65 tonnes (2023: 110 tonnes). According to the State Statistical Office, the area data used to calculate the yields per hectare are based on the tree fruit cultivation survey, which was last carried out in 2022.
Source: IT NRW