Poor harvest in Wachtberg’s meadows 70 percent fewer apples this year

Wachtberg · A late frost in spring is responsible for a poor apple and pear crop in this harvest season. Still, visitors are invited to a festival this weekend where they can buy local produce and see how apple juice is made.

Farmers in the region are lamenting a poor apple crop this year. Dorothee Hochgürtel is a leader in a group promoting orchards in Wachtberg and she says this can be considered a catastrophic yield this year. “We are expecting around 70 percent fewer apples.” The late frost in spring was a big factor: “In some of the meadow orchards, even as many as 100 percent of the buds were frozen,” she explained.

Pater Muß, a spokesperson for a regional produce producers organization, agrees with this assessment. “Because of the heavy frost in April, the crop yield will be smaller this year in orchards where they don’t have the possibility to protect against the frost.” He added that some operations had mechanisms to put in place against frost and that these orchards would still be able to produce a good yield.

Since 1994, around 110 people have been active in trying to preserve the valuable agricultural land in Wachtberg. Fruits from the apple and pear trees are used for making organic juices. “Up to now, more than 160,000 bottles have been consumed,” says Dorothee Hochgürtel. Proceeds are used to invest in more fruit trees and maintaining the land. This year, they will not be able to produce as much juice as in years past. The pear crop is also significantly impacted this year, with around 50 percent less than normal yield.

For those who would like to know how apples are pressed and made into juice, there will be a third annual Orchard Fest at the “Biolandbetrieb Hochgürtel” (Organic produce company Hochgürtel) where demonstrations will be given. It will take place Sunday, September 17 from 11am - 6pm, at Am Kesselberg in Wachtberg-Züllighoven. There will also be an organic produce market and a petting zoo for children, and live music at 4 pm. (Orig. text: Axel Vogel. Translation: ckloep)

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