The aronia berry is considered a superfood that strengthens health. In terms of popularity in Bavaria, it has even outstripped blackberries and raspberries in some cases.
Eschau (dpa/lby) - The aronia berry harvest in Franconia was completed two weeks earlier than usual this year. According to the Franconian fruit growers' association, the last fruits were collected as early as the second week of August. Due to this year's drought, the harvest was difficult, growers report. The fruits dried like raisins would have been difficult to harvest mechanically.
Small fruits, but sweet juice: fruit grower Willi Nagler from Eschau in Lower Franconia (Miltenberg district) speaks of a "juice of the century". "However, we now have a juice of the century every two to three years," says Nagler, referring to the summers that have often been very hot and dry recently. About 20 years ago, Nagler was one of the first in Bavaria to start cultivating aronia berries on a large scale.
Despite the drought, the aronia berry is becoming increasingly popular in Bavaria. Because according to the Bavarian State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture (LWG), the aronia berry is comparatively less susceptible to pests, frost and sunburn. According to the Federal Statistical Office, 38 companies are now growing aronia berries in Bavaria - more than in any other federal state. The popularity of the aronia berry among fruit growers tops that of blackberries and gooseberries, among others.
The area under cultivation in Bavaria has also been increasing for years; it now even exceeds the acreage of raspberries. In 2021 it was over 174 hectares. Aronia berries are only cultivated over a larger area in Brandenburg and Saxony. In 2021, 506 tons of aronia berries were harvested in Bavaria.
According to the LWG, the aronia berry, also known as the chokeberry, originally comes from North America. The approximately pea-sized fruits are considered to be particularly rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and therefore protect against vascular, heart, cancer and circulatory diseases according to the LWG. Aronia berries are rarely eaten raw, but are often processed further, for example to make juice, jam or liqueur. They are also often used as food coloring.
