Blueberry harvest starts now in Northern Germany – freshness straight from the field!

Blueberry harvest starts now in Northern Germany – freshness straight from the field!

The wait is over: From now on, blueberry fans in northern Germany can look forward to fresh, local fruit! The harvest time for the sought-after berries began today after they were already available in the southern regions of Germany. The harvest is in full swing on the open-air and self-picking fields in Lower Saxony Gabot reported.

Felix Koschnick, the head of the experimental station for soft fruit in Langförden, emphasizes that the North German Plain with its heath and moor locations offers optimal growing conditions. However, the weather plays a crucial role: the bulk of the harvest is expected between mid-July and early August, depending on weather conditions.

High quality and good yields expected

Interestingly, the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture (LWK) draws a positive conclusion about the harvest prospects this year. It is expected that the fruit will be of good quality and that there will be sufficient quantities of blueberries available for sale in food retailers, direct marketers and self-picking fields. The local blueberries are not only fresh, they also perform better in terms of the ecological balance: Shorter transport routes lead to a better CO2 balance and lower water consumption compared to imported fruits.

The blueberry season in Germany extends until September, as different ripening times for the varieties mean a slow end to the harvest. The main variety ‘Duke’ in particular will be harvested next week. Last year, 156 companies in Lower Saxony produced a harvest of almost 10,000 tons of cultivated blueberries on 2,249 hectares, once again LWK Lower Saxony reported. Lower Saxony remains the main growing area in Germany, with 65% of the total cultivated area.

Blueberries for every taste

Blueberries are not only delicious, but also healthy. They are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, which may even help reduce the risk of cancer. In Germany, cultivated blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum), which have been cultivated in this country for around 100 years, are particularly popular with consumers. In contrast to this are the aromatic wild blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus), which thrive in sparse moorland forests and are harvested by hand using berry combs. The latter are less sweet, but they have a more intense taste, like this IVA Magazine nicely summarized.

In summary, it can be said that the demand for blueberries in Germany is strong. In 2017, a 43% increase in consumption was recorded compared to the previous year, and the small blue berries will continue to be very popular in 2025. The combination of good quality, local availability and diverse uses makes the blueberry a real summer fruit for all generations.