For the Bär family in Opfershofen TG, everything revolves around apples – now in its fifth generation. However, a lot has changed in the last few decades: dairy cows have not grazed in the meadows for some time now. There are only a few tall trees left, but there are several hectares of sturdy, medium-height apple trees, mainly for the production of apple juice. Today, Christoph Bär is at the helm with his wife Debora and their four children. His parents are also eager to help, as are additional temporary labourers during the harvest season. The apples and the juices made from them have been officially labelled with the Bio Suisse Bud for four years.
Partnership at eye level
This year, for the third time, Christhoph Bär is delivering the majority of the harvest to the Holderhof fruit processing centre. This is located just a few minutes’ drive away in Sulgen. Christoph Bär has been a Holderhof supplier from the very beginning. What he previously missed with previous customers, he found at Holderhof: “The company is interested in a genuine partnership and cooperation with us fruit producers.” They meet as equals and the company founder’s farming background is always evident. He also shares his business philosophy, which centres on regional cider apples and pure juice. For him, one thing is clear: “Sweet cider is undervalued in Switzerland and has degenerated into a cheap mass product in recent years.” It is high time to correct this image. He also thinks it would be good to see some life coming to the Swiss cider market, which has been sluggish so far.
Specialised organic production
Christoph Bär converted his farm to organic four years ago. Even before that, he was already going organic and had long since stopped using herbicides under the trees, for example. The soil there is permanently greened, which requires clever mulch management. «At harvest, the grass has to be short so that we can harvest well mechanically,» he explains. Cattle manure from a neighbouring organic farm is used as fertiliser. One challenge is combating plant diseases such as scab, against which the permitted organic products only have a limited effect. Looking back, he says that converting to organic farming was altogether more challenging than he thought. He is still learning the hard way. «The yields are not yet where they should be.» However, he is convinced that they will get there in the next few years.
Passion for apple juice
Christoph Bär produces single-variety juices and other specialities for marketing in the farm shop under his own brand «Bärenmost». Christoph Bär is currently constructing a new building right next door in Opfershofen, where he would like to present his own products to additional customers in the style of a «wine estate» in future. This separate business area was never seen as a problem in the discussions with Holderhof. Realistically, the quantities are too small for that, he smiles. Nevertheless, they are large enough for some varieties so that filling them into glass bottles at the Holderhof fruit processing centre is now worthwhile. For his family, this mainstay is particularly important emotionally because they enjoy the direct customer contact. “If we’re doing well, Holderhof is doing well – and vice versa!” A true partnership.
Organic apples are more susceptible to diseases because the organic pesticides are less effective.
The grass under the trees must be mulched regularly so that it does not grow too high.
Christoph Bär is the fifth generation to produce cider apples.
The organic apple harvest starts in September.
Christoph Bär delivers the organic apples to the fruit processing centre in Sulgen in autumn.