GDP contribution:

The agricultural sector, including fruits production, contributed about 0.6% to Germany's GDP. The gross production value in the agriculture market of Germany is projected to amount to US$63.43 billion in 2023

Territory and population involved with agriculture:

Approximately 48% of Germany's territory is used for agricultural production. Around 1.4% of its population works in the agriculture sector.

Fruit producing trend:

The fruit market in Germany witnessed a decrease of 8% in 2022 following two years of growth. However, the market value increased at an average annual rate of +1.9% over the period from 2012 to 2022, with only minor fluctuations observed in certain years.

Domestic and exported fruits:

Limited Export: Most of the imported and domestically produced fresh fruit and vegetables are destined for the internal market, with exports adding up to only 1.5 billion euros. Exports majorly comprise large commodities like bananas or local produce such as potatoes, berries, apples, sweet peppers, asparagus, onion, lettuce, and cabbage, mainly to surrounding countries like the Netherlands and Denmark. 1

Imported Fruits: FGermany complements its domestic supply with imports, particularly of tomatoes, sweet peppers, table grapes, apples, and cucumbers from other European countries. Popular import products from developing countries include more tropical varieties with significant increases in the imports of berries, avocados, dates, mangoes, and melons over the past five years1

Annual revenue:

In 2023, the agriculture sector in Germany generated about €43.7 billion in net revenue, showing an increase from the previous year, which had a net revenue of €40.97 billion.

While the fruit and vegetable processing industry in Germany generated roughly €11.29 billion in revenues in 2021, a slight decrease from the previous year which had revenues of €11.55 billion.

Reliance on seasonal workers:

Traditionally, a substantial portion of the seasonal agricultural labor force in Germany has been comprised of migrant workers, particularly from Bulgaria and Romania. In 2019, Germany's agricultural sector hired 300,000 migrant workers. The snippet hints at some government action when borders were closed, but the specifics are not provided.2

Number of farms and agricultural entities:

According to the German Federal Statistical Office states that there are 262,776 agricultural holdings in Germany, including 26,133 holdings with organic farming, employing 937,900 agricultural workers. 3

Seasons for migrant workers:

Winter Winter is noted as the peak season for fruit-picking jobs in Germany, as many employers are eager to begin harvesting their crops during this time.

Fall: This season is mentioned as a productive time for fruit and vegetable harvesting in Germany, indicating a potentially busy period for fruit pickers.

Technology adoption and government involvement:

Data collection and processing along with intelligent automation technologies are vital in the development of new agricultural machinery. In 2023, the domestic market volume for agricultural machinery was approximately EUR 7.5 billion, reflecting a significant investment in technological advancement.3Germany stands as the world's third-largest producer of agricultural machinery, following the USA and China, which signifies a substantial technological footprint in the agriculture sector. It also uses the standard global robotics, gps and drone technologies.

Jobs provided:

According to recent statistics, the agriculturale job sector hired up to 300,000 workers.

Regions and fruit farms:

Lake Constance Region: Known for being a prime location for growing apples and pears. This region is Germany's southernmost fruit-growing area where apple orchards reach directly to the shores of Lake Constance. The counties of Constance, Lindau, Ravensburg, and the Lake Constance district are particularly conducive for fruit growing.

Alte Land near Hamburg: Another well-known region for apple and pear cultivation

Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, and Thuringia These regions are primarily known for sour cherry cultivation. Rhineland-Palatinate is also noted for its nearly Mediterranean climate, making it ideal for growing a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Baden-Württemberg: Significant for the production of plums, damson plums, and mirabelle plums. About 71% of the plum harvest in Germany comes from this region and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Palatinate (Pfalz) Region: Known for its almost Mediterranean climate conditions, the Palatinate region is ideal for growing a variety of fruits and vegetables. Pfalzmarkt, a collective of 120 growers in this region, is noted for producing fruits and vegetables of outstanding quality.

Earnings for seasonal workers:

The earnings in Germany for harvester depends on the region. It can go from 1000EU in some regions up to 3000 in others, with hourly rate of 10EU to 15EU.