Increased apple yields anticipated at Lake Constance this season

The picturesque Lake Constance region is abuzz with activity as the fruit industry gears up for the annual Lake Constance apple season opening. This year's event, held at the Steffelin orchard in Markdorf-Ittendorf, was marked by a strong emphasis on sustainability and local market development.

State Secretary Sabine Kurtz, from the Ministry of Food, Rural Areas, and Consumer Protection Baden-Württemberg, was present at the event, underscoring the ministry's support for the sustainability project "FAIRDI - Real Lake Constance Apple". The project, which involves regional fruit-growing quality programs around Lake Constance, aims to promote biological diversity, reduce plant protection measures, and develop a marketing concept for regional fruit production.

The collaborative effort includes practitioners from fruit growing, science, and politics, although specific producer organizations and the exact number of participating farms have not been detailed. The Wuerttembergische Obstgenossenschaft Raiffeisen e.G. (WOG) and Marktgemeinschaft Bodenseeobst e.G. (MaBo) are two such organizations that bundle fruit from around 600 producer operations in Baden-Württemberg.

Despite challenging weather conditions in 2025, good apple quality and sizes were achieved around Lake Constance. This success is a testament to the industry's commitment to maintaining a balance between economic success, protection of natural resources, and meeting societal demands.

State Secretary Sabine Kurtz emphasised the importance of servicing and strengthening local, regional, and new markets with added value potential for the fruit industry. The Lake Constance apple season opening serves not only to communicate concerns of the fruit industry to a wider public but also to promote the region's apples and raise consumer awareness of the benefits and importance of regional fruit for a healthy diet.

Moreover, the EU program for promoting producer organizations in the fruit and vegetable sector offers a special funding instrument with a large scope for design, including fruit tree plantings, hail protection nets, and irrigation systems. However, specific details about the promotion of these elements were not mentioned in the text.

The common goal of WOG and MaBo is to sharpen and make tangible the unique profile of their apples through the regional campaign 'Naturally.VON DAHEIM'. The Lake Constance apple season opening provides an opportunity to explore new markets with added value potential for the fruit industry, further securing its long-term success through product and process quality, as well as traceable regionality.