Saxon fruit growers are hoping for a better harvest than last year ahead of the official start of the strawberry season on 27 May. In 2024, the harvest volume in Saxony was around 40 percent of the normal level due to frosty nights in April, said Carmen Stefanie Kaps, Managing Director of the Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt Fruit Growers' Association, when asked. "Although there are no concrete forecasts for this year, growers are naturally hoping for better conditions". However, the first strawberries are already on sale.
No price forecast yet
The weather plays a decisive role in strawberry quality. "Growers want warm days and cool nights to enhance the flavor of the fruit. Excessive moisture, on the other hand, can affect the quality," explained Kaps. She could not yet say how prices would develop this year. In addition to the harvest volume, this also depends on production costs and demand.
Area under cultivation declining significantly
According to Kaps, demand in Saxony cannot be fully met due to the ever-decreasing area under cultivation. According to the State Statistical Office, strawberries were grown on around 275 hectares last year. Ten years earlier, the figure was 436 hectares.
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