Southwest region initiates cherry picking season - Southwest region's cherry picking season underway
Cherry Harvest Kicks Off in Southwest Germany
Fruit growers in the Southwest have initiated the cherry harvest in some regions. In the Baden region, particularly surrounding Offenburg, the fruit has already been made available for purchase.
This traditional fruit-growing area has experienced some frost damage in certain spots, according to farmers' reports. However, the extent of these damages varies across the region.
Kathrin Walter-Zeller, managing director of the Baden-Württemberg Association of Fruit Growers, expressed satisfaction with the cherry harvest so far. She noted that the Ortenau region leads the harvest, followed by the Neckar Valley and the Lake Constance region, as reported to a trade publication.
Last year's harvest in the Southwest was more successful than previous years, with 17,800 tons of sweet cherries and 3,900 tons of sour cherries being harvested, as reported by the Statistical Office. This marked a significant increase of over 30% for sweet cherries and more than four times the previous year's value for sour cherries.
The harvest conditions in some parts of Germany, such as Bavaria, have proven challenging in 2025 due to drought, affecting producers, including cherry growers, according to reports. Moreover, studies on cherry tree biomass yields in Southwest Germany indicate a focus on the region, yet specific data for the 2024 harvest season is not detailed.
In regions like Offenburg and Oberkirch, known for their fruit production, local conditions may differ based on weather patterns and farming practices. Unfortunately, without specific data for these areas, a comprehensive analysis of the 2024 cherry harvest yield or status in these regions is not possible.
The community policy in the cherry-growing regions might need to address the varying effects of frost damage on employment policies for fruit growers. Meanwhile, adopting a lifestyle that includes home-and-garden activities could be more appealing to those employed in the booming cherry-growing sector, supporting the local economy.
