Zug,19.07.2017

Cherry harvest down by two-thirds

Usually the cherry harvest in central Switzerland amounts to between 400 and 450 tonnes. However, on account of the frosts in spring, only 130 tonnes are expected to be produced this year. Nevertheless, the quality of what has been produced is very good.
 
It was as a result of enduring frosts earlier in the year that some growers lost their entire crop, while others have had to be satisfied with a much diminished one.
 
Louis Suter, who heads the Cantonal Fruit-Growing Advisory Board, pointed out that lots of cherries have been imported this year, more than ever before. He said that, as a result of the news earlier in the year that the cherry harvest here was not going to be very good, the large retailers reacted accordingly and have not pushed the sale of cherries so much as in previous years. “In fact people have had to really look for Swiss cherries for sale on the shelves,” said Suter. “Fewer have been sold directly from farm shops, too.”
 
Beatrice Rüttimann of the Swiss Fruit-Growing Association said that the wide publicity surrounding the shortage of cherries expected this year had led to less demand and of course there were lots of other summer fruits to choose from at this time of the year.
 
Not that all fruit farmers were adversely affected. Those with orchards near to Lake Zug have done very well, the quality of their cherries very high and very sweet.
 
In order to increase demand and publicise local production, Hünenberg farmer Jürg Odermatt got three accomplished sportsmen, kick-boxer Janosch Nietlispach, wake-boarder Andy Meyenberg and all-rounder Sebi Eichenberger, to help with the harvest, which proved a sweat-inducing but enjoyable alternative to their normal training.
 
It is expected the cherry harvest in the canton will now draw to a close over the next few days.