North Rhine-Westphalia fruit harvests decline due to drought

Fruit harvests in North Rhine-Westphalia are facing significant declines due to summer heat and drought. According to data from the statistical office IT.NRW, the apple harvest is expected to drop by nearly 18 percent compared to the previous year, with an estimated total yield of approximately 67,300 tons.

Farmers are also reporting issues with fruit quality. High solar radiation has caused sun damage to some crops, though some growers use hail nets to filter UV rays and protect the fruit. These weather conditions have also led to smaller fruit sizes, which increases labor costs for producers because more manual handling is required per kilogram of produce.

Other fruit yields are also expected to decrease. Pear production is projected to be roughly 16 percent lower than last year, while sweet cherry yields are estimated to have fallen by nearly a quarter.