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The raspberry harvest has begun: fresh produce from northern Germany is conquering the fields!
Raspberry harvest in Lower Saxony starts outdoors. Protected cultivation leads to better quality and CO₂ balance.
The raspberry harvest has begun: fresh produce from northern Germany is conquering the fields!
It's that time again in northern Germany: the raspberry harvest has begun! Harvesting work is currently starting on the plantations and in the self-picking fields, after the first protected forms of cultivation, such as polytunnels, have been producing fruit since May. This reports District newspaper weekly.
The Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture provides information about the harvest, which is now really getting going both in tunnels and in the open field. With new cultivation methods, raspberries can now be harvested from May to September, which makes cultivation significantly more flexible. The region around Vechta and the Stader Geest area in particular are considered centers of raspberry cultivation in Lower Saxony, where the conditions are ideal.
Self-picking is very popular
Particularly popular are the pick-your-own fields that are sprouting up in urban areas. Here, consumers also accept longer journeys in order to harvest the fresh raspberries themselves. After all, local raspberries not only have a better CO₂ balance, they also require less water compared to imports from far-fetched countries like Spain or Morocco. Loud Fruitnet The harvest in protected cultivation has increased in recent years: in 2023, 782 tons of raspberries were harvested from protected cultivation, while 117 tons were harvested outdoors.
As far as the number of companies is concerned, there have been some changes here too. 37 companies produced raspberries on 48 hectares outdoors in 2023, while a total of 16 companies planted raspberries on 63 hectares under protected cultivation. This shows a clear trend towards protected cultivation in order to be able to better control harvest quantities and quality. Felix Koschnick, head of the experimental station for soft fruit in Langförden, describes the advantages of protected cultivation, which enables yields that are more independent of the weather.
Harvest time for many types of fruit
However, the raspberry harvest is not the only thing that keeps farmers in northern Germany busy. The blueberry harvest also starts now in the open field and in self-picking fields, while the grain harvest begins with winter barley. The 2025 asparagus harvest in Lower Saxony shows pleasing quality, but slightly lower harvest quantities than expected. This diversity in harvest shows how dynamic local agriculture is and how it adapts to changing conditions.
Overall, it can be said that raspberry cultivation in northern Germany not only makes ecological sense, but also represents a great example of the trend towards regionalism. Anyone who ventures into the fields now can harvest fresh raspberries directly from the bush and at the same time make an important contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions. The following applies here: delicious, fresh raspberries directly from the region are not only a pleasure, but also a clear conscience.