Apples of the Piros variety on one of the plantations in Markendorf Photo: Soeren Stache/dpa
From the BZ editorial team
Ants in cherries, plums that are too small, burnt apples: the drought is making Brandenburg’s fruit growers difficult.
The strong sunlight has destroyed up to 30 percent of red-skinned apple varieties such as Gala. Thomas Bröcker, an expert in fruit growing at the Horticultural Association: “We haven’t had that in the hardship yet.”
Bröcker has been working in Markendorf, the second largest fruit-growing area in Brandenburg (280 hectares), for 40 years.
The plum harvest was also tons less because the fruit was too small. And ants have infested a large portion of the cherries.
The biggest problems for the fruit growers: because of the heat, constant watering is required and the increased energy costs.
Bröcker: “Ultimately we will probably achieve low prices with high costs.”