Strawberry pick-your-own experiences in Brandenburg initially face some challenges - Harvesting strawberries kicks off in Brandenburg: Public invited to pluck their own fruit
Strawberry Picking Season Confronts Initial Challenges in Brandenburg
The strawberry harvest season in Brandenburg has experienced setbacks, primarily due to late frosts. Farmers and plantation owners recommend advance information gathering about opening hours due to potential short-term closures.
Due to the adverse effect of late frosts in May, some farms, such as Neumann's Erntegarten in Potsdam, have postponed self-picking activities. "We anticipate the harvest in approximately three weeks,” Martina Neumann explained, "as the first blossoms were damaged by the initial late frost."
The Berliner Beerengarten, located in Oranienburg, Schönefließ, Hoppegarten, and Gatow, temporarily shut down its gardens due to a lack of ripe fruits. The closure may be reinstated if more fruits do not mature rapidly.
The Pomona Gartenbau-Betrieb in Ahrensfelde/Elisenau is one farm attempting to mitigate such risks for future cultivation. They maintain a WhatsApp channel to share information about growing varieties and current opening hours with their customers. Farm owner Reiner Matthes expressed his intentions to strengthen the field's resilience against climate change. The 2025 late-May frost, resulting in the destruction of a significant proportion of the strawberry harvest, reinforced the urgency for action.
Matthes advocates for the future implementation of Agri-Photovoltaic systems to protect strawberry plantations from climatic threats. These systems could provide a protective roof for the plants and potentially incorporate frost protection sprinklers.
BB Brandenburger Obst GmbH also encourages customers to stay informed about the opening hours, as intermittent closures might occur due to the fruits needing more time to ripen. Early reports indicate a decline in strawberry cultivation in Brandenburg. Factors such as surging operational costs, energy expenses, wage increases, and compliance with plant protection regulations are placing pressure on about 60 horticultural businesses in the region that specialize in strawberry production.
In light of these challenges, farmers and researchers are investigating sustainable and protective measures to enhance future yields and adapt to the changing climate conditions. Technological innovations, such as agrivoltaics, may offer potential solutions for increasing the resilience of strawberry plantations against extreme weather events.
As the farmers and plantation owners strive to adapt to the changing climate conditions, they are considering community and employment policies to strengthen their workforce and maintain open communication with the public. For instance, providing advance notice of opening hours and embracing technological advancements like Agri-Photovoltaic systems could help mitigate the risks associated with extreme weather events, ensuring a steady supply of fresh strawberries and promoting a sustainable lifestyle that aligns with food-and-drink preferences. Additionally, home-and-garden enthusiasts might be interested in incorporating these protective measures into their own backyards to enhance their horticultural endeavors, thus playing a role in the overall resilience of the strawberry-growing community.
