When the queen of berries is ripe

The strawberry producers in the canton are currently very busy, and the bright red fruit is ready for harvest in large quantities. The weather has done its best to ensure they have a very good taste, even though the rain took its toll.

For around a week, local strawberries have been appearing in large quantities on the shelves - whether at the wholesaler or in the small farm shop. The work in the fields is currently in full swing, as the Hünenberg fruit farmer Jonas Boog confirmed. "We have been processing the main crop for about a week." And he expects that these strawberries will be available until mid-July. "After that, there are so-called repeat-flowering varieties, whose plants produce new berries again and again." These can then be harvested until about October.

This main season started a little later this year, particularly compared to last year. According to Boog, the past year was difficult in terms of strawberries, as it was cold until March and then very warm. "All the strawberries became ripe at the same time." The weather has been better this time. "It was warm in April and then cooler again. So the berries grow slower, which is better for their taste.

It’s difficult to estimate how many strawberries can be harvested from Boog's fields this season. "But I think it's going to be an average year."

The Hünenberg strawberry producer Jonas Boog on one of his fields. Image: Stefan Kaiser (4 June 2019)

Customers have been able to pick strawberries themselves on Boog's fields since the beginning of the week. But this offer only lasts a relatively short time. "Probably next week and, as it now appears, probably the week after." The fields on which self-picking can take place have been in initially harvested once by Boog and his co-workers for the first time. "We always see that we can take away the rotten berries." This had been more difficult this year, as some strawberries became rotten due to the damp weather. "We’re now grateful for the dry weather."

Across Switzerland, strawberries are cultivated on around 510 hectares, which roughly corresponds to the area of the Steinhausen community. According to a statement from the Swiss Fruit Association, around one third of the total area under cultivation is protected from the weather.