After the apple variety Elstar follows the Gala presentation of the Saxon fruit growers in the coming week. For Elstar and Gala - the two main varieties in the Free State - the harvest is now in full swing. Udo Jentzsch, managing director of the Saxon Fruit Association, is optimistic. "We expect good qualities this year. The wetness has not harmed the apples in any way, the rain has rather helped," he told the German Press Agency. Also with the fruit sizes one can be satisfied.
At the beginning of the apple harvest, the fruit-growing association had expected about 52,000 tons. Now Jentzsch hopes that it becomes nevertheless somewhat more. Nevertheless, the smallest harvest of the last 25 years is forecast. According to Jentzsch, this is mainly due to the spring frost at the beginning of April and unfavorable flowering weather. At that time, the trees had not yet blossomed and buds had frozen. The hanging on the trees in the previous year also played a role. The trees of the Jonagold and Pinova varieties in particular had borne a lot of fruit in 2022. Thus, the yield would be lower this time due to alternation - the fluctuation of fruit yield in a two-year rhythm.
