Fruit harvests in North Rhine-Westphalia and Thuringia expected to decline

Fruit farmers in North Rhine-Westphalia and Thuringia are expecting significant declines in harvests for 2026. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the apple harvest is projected to drop by 17.9% compared to the previous year, with an estimated 67,318 tons expected. This decrease is attributed to heat and drought during the summer months. The yield per hectare is expected to fall from 41.2 to 33.8 tons.

Other fruit yields in North Rhine-Westphalia are also facing declines. Pear production is estimated to drop by 15.5% compared to 2025, while sweet cherry harvests are projected to decrease by 23.9% and sour cherries by 15.6%.

In Thuringia, apple yields are estimated at 19 tons per hectare, which is approximately 5.2 tons less than the long-term average from 2020 to 2025. Despite these reductions, industry representatives, such as Michael Bley of Fahner Obst, suggest that consumer supplies of products like apple juice and cake should remain stable due to existing stocks from previous harvests.