Berry season in Europe starts with weather risks and production changes
The start of the berry season in European countries in May 2026 is accompanied by significant weather challenges. Farmers are facing atypical temperature instability, which affects the harvest and preparations for the season.
This is reported by AgroReview
Weather challenges for key berry regions
In Poland, regular nighttime temperature drops to 0°C and below were observed in March, while short-term warm spells activated early plant development. Forecasts for April indicated possible frosts down to −2.5°C during flowering, which is a critical period for berry crops.
In Serbia, sharp temperature fluctuations were noted: daytime temperatures reached +20°C, while nighttime brought frost. Plants here are particularly sensitive to such cold snaps, and intense rainfall in early April further complicated the situation.
In Ukraine, the weather conditions were similar. The main threat to producers remains frost during the flowering period, which occurs after an abnormally early warming. It is the temperature instability and the risk of plant damage during critical development phases that define the specifics of the season.
The impact of weather conditions on yield and protective measures
According to a report from the relevant association, strawberries and raspberries have survived the winter-spring period without significant damage, so the harvest of these crops is not under threat. However, blueberries have recorded damage levels of 10–20%, which may lead to a decrease in overall yield, although the average berry size is likely to increase.
The report emphasizes that stable electricity supply remains a critical factor for the operation of irrigation, spraying systems, and refrigeration. To minimize the risks of summer outages, most farms are equipped with diesel generators capable of covering 50–100% of their production needs. Some enterprises are additionally investing in the construction of their own solar power plants.
Experts emphasize that the main risk remains frost during flowering, which significantly impacted the harvest last year. To protect against this, producers have prepared a set of preventive measures: covering crops with agrotextiles, smoking fields with straw, and using artificial fog generators (glycerin guns).
In addition to weather risks, the structure of production costs has also changed: expenses for material and technical support, particularly for plant protection products, fertilizers, and fuel, have significantly increased. Prices for certain items have doubled. However, there is currently no acute fuel shortage due to fewer field operations during this period.