The EBF represents the organic fruit sector
Europäisches Bioobst-Forum is an organisation for groups of organic fruit growers from all over Europe. The groups of organic fruit growers exchange information and share their experience on a regular basis and collect information on organic fruit production and the organic fruit market. Europäisches Bioobst-Forum coordinates this exchange of information.
Weak organic apple harvest in 2024 will be followed by a normal harvest in 2025
On June 17, 2025, the general assembly of the EBF (Europäisches Bioobst Forum) took place in Val di Non/Trentino in northern Italy. This year’s host was the cooperative Melinda/Apot.
Crop forecast of the 7 most important European countries
Ursula Schockemöhle from AMI presented the first estimate of the expected harvest 2025 in organic fruit orchards of 7 European countries to the EBF members.
As a result of increased cultivation risks, there have been significant abandonments or conversions of organic orchards into IP orchards in some regions since the 2024 harvest.
An increase of 4% organic apples compared to the average of recent years
For over 20 years, EBF has been carrying out the first estimate of the coming apple harvest
in June of the current year and can therefore look back on a long series of comparative data. Compared to the very weak 2024 harvest, a plus of 9% organic apples is expected for 2025 and a plus of 4% compared to the average of the previous 3 years.
A drop of 8% compared to the previous year for organic pears
In contrast, organic pears are expected to be down 8% compared to 2024 and 11% compared to the average of the previous 3 years. Up to mid-June, EBF members had not yet experienced any major adverse effects from weather events such as hail, heat or storms.
In general, good, marketable fruit quality is currently expected in all regions, but as experience shows, this may still be subject to considerable weather influences in the next 3-4 months until the harvest.
Most popular varieties with a slight increase
For the popular table varieties Gala, Topaz, Jonagold, Elstar and Pinova, slight volume increases are expected in the 2025 estimate, while various marginal varieties will decrease significantly or, like Golden Delicious, stabilize at a lower level compared to previous years.
In contrast to the frost-related yield reductions of over 30 % in 2024 in the German growing regions north of Lake Constance, a good normal harvest is expected again. Belgium and the Netherlands are recording significant deficits in organic pears and are expecting a volume increase in organic apples again.
European Organic Fruit Forum EBF June 2025