Due to the consequences of the frosty nights in April, Saxon apples are in rather short supply this year, especially in supermarkets. "It's a little better than expected, but still catastrophic," said Udo Jentzsch from the Saxony & Saxony-Anhalt Fruit Growers' Association. For both fruit-growing regions, he expects a yield of "not much more than ten to 15 percent". In a normal harvest, the total is 70,000 to 80,000 tons, around 70,000 tons of which are in Saxony.
Saxon apples probably only in farm shops
For the direct marketers it will be enough this time too, they will pick their own apples and offer them in the farm stores, "it will be worth it for them", said Jentzsch. "There will hardly be anything from the region in the retail sector." He also expects apple prices to be slightly higher overall, as other growing regions in Germany and Europe have also experienced frost and are expecting slightly lower yields. "At the very least, there will be significantly less supply."
According to Jentzsch, the Pinova variety had a second bloom, "that's where most of the apples are". A second harvest two or three weeks after the fruit from non-frozen blossoms cannot be ruled out. The yield also depends on the variety. "Jonagold doesn't really have anything on it, Boskop will hardly have anything, Braeburn very little, Gala has a little bit, Idared and Pinova tolerated it best, Champion too, there will be relatively large fruit."
