German Fruit Growers Expect Higher Cherry Harvest this Summer
According to a preliminary harvest forecast by the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) as of June 10, 2025, German fruit growers are expecting a higher cherry harvest this summer. The total harvest of sweet and sour cherries is expected to reach 49,900 tons, a 41.0% increase compared to the previous year’s harvest of 35,400 tons and a 10.4% increase above the average of the past ten years (45,200 tons).
The national sweet cherry harvest is expected to be 38,200 tons, a significant increase of 16.0% above the average of the past ten years. Compared to the particularly poor harvest of 2024, the sweet cherry harvest is expected to be 36.8% higher.
The forecast for the sweet cherry harvest is positive across all federal states, with higher yields expected in every state compared to the previous year. The mild weather conditions during the blooming period, with no late frosts and strong rainfall, are the main factors contributing to the higher harvest expectations.
Regional differences in the impact of these factors are evident, however. In Baden-Württemberg, the most significant state for sweet cherry cultivation, a harvest of 18,900 tons is expected on 2,600 hectares of land, a 6.2% increase compared to the previous year. In Lower Saxony, a harvest of 3,700 tons is expected on 500 hectares, a 24.1% increase. In Rhineland-Palatinate, a harvest of 3,600 tons is expected on 700 hectares, a 72.3% increase.
In total, 5,700 hectares of sweet cherries are cultivated in Germany. The expected harvest of sour cherries is around 11,700 tons, a 4.5% decrease compared to the average of the past ten years, but a 56.6% increase compared to the particularly poor harvest of 2024. The good spring weather is the main factor contributing to the positive harvest expectations in the sour cherry sector.