Cider mills expect a below-average apple harvest

Apple processing plants in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt are expecting a below-average apple harvest this year. However, this could vary by region, according to Kathleen Kitsche, chairwoman of the Fruit Juice Association, which has members from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Brandenburg.

According to her, a “poor harvest” is expected in the Leipzig region, and below-average yields are also anticipated in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. In Upper Lusatia, where Kitsche operates her Kekila juice processing plant, the harvest does not appear to be quite as bad, she said.

Sun Scorched the Apples

Night frosts in the spring caused the apple blossoms to freeze, and the drought and heat in the summer did the rest. According to Kitsche, the apples are relatively small, and many are falling from the trees too early. In some cases, the fruit has been scorched by the sun.

Matthias Schulz, managing director of the sweet cider, wine, and fine spirits distillery in Diesdorf in the Altmark (Saxony-Anhalt), reported similar conditions. The crop on the trees in his region differs significantly from last year’s, with yields estimated to be 15 to 20 percent lower.

Apples Show Signs of Forced Ripening

Many apples delivered to his pressery are, accordingly, unripe on one side and sunscorched on the other. Or the fruit has ripened prematurely due to water stress—meaning it is not yet fully mature and contains a lot of starch and little sugar. According to Schulz, these are typical phenomena resulting from this summer’s hot and dry weather conditions.

Schulz expects an early and short apple harvest this year. According to him, the early, sour, or prematurely ripened apples can be used for apple wine. The later varieties, which are sweeter, will be pressed into juice.

Smaller Apple Harvest Across Germany

Nationwide, heat and drought are reducing this year’s apple harvest, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office based on a preliminary estimate from July. Based on their own estimates, fruit growers expect to harvest approximately 934,000 metric tons of apples—nearly 53,000 metric tons less than the average over the past ten years. This is expected to be nearly 18 percent lower than last year’s particularly good apple harvest.

In Saxony, last year’s harvest totaled 58,607 metric tons; according to the data, it is expected to drop to 53,583 metric tons this year. In Saxony-Anhalt, 13,056 metric tons of apples are expected this year, compared to 17,019 metric tons last year.