Birnen erobern das Alte Land

Master fruit grower Florian Borgmann is taking a risk with pears in apple country—and fighting passionately to secure their place in the future. The increasingly mild climate could see pears go from being a niche product to a regional specialty.

This year, 41-year-old Florian Borgmann from Buxtehude on the edge of the Altes Land region is taking over primary responsibility for the family business for the first time, and everyone is pitching in. The Altes Land between Cuxhaven and Hamburg is considered the largest contiguous fruit-growing region in Germany. However, 90 percent of the trees are apple trees, while Florian also focuses on pears. They now account for ten percent of his cultivation. The fruit is full of potential, but it is also capricious. In May, he anxiously watches the blossoms and has expert Peter Heyne check whether there is a risk of frost damage. It quickly becomes clear that pears are real divas among fruits – sensitive, high-maintenance, and demanding. But Florian sticks to his vision and relies on technology, manual labor, and special varieties to tame the delicate fruits. At the same time, he is responsible for his family and the business. As every year, Romanian seasonal workers come to harvest the pears, picking them carefully. The fruit is sorted in the warehouses and packed by machine at a neighboring farm. Thus, the pear is slowly fighting its way from a niche product to a regional star—a true North German success story.

Nordreportage accompanies a courageous fruit grower from Buxtehude: while apples reign supreme in the Altes Land region, the delicate pear struggles to find its place. A new source of income for fruit growers—full of risks, full of passion, and with the hope of a northern German revival.