Hop harvest 2024: Illschwang's yield halved due to flooding

Hop harvest 2024: Illschwang's yield halved due to flooding

Traditional hop picking recently took place in Illschwang, but the harvest this year was significantly smaller than last year. Only 54 kilograms of the popular Perle hop variety and 8 kilograms of the Hersbrucker Alt variety were harvested. These quantities are now in the hop museum, where they are hung up to dry.

The first chairman of the Illschwang Horticultural Association, Wolfgang Stowasser, explained that the flood situation in June had a major impact on the harvest. Heavy rainfall at the end of May resulted in water not draining, preventing essential maintenance work from being carried out. These circumstances have severely affected crop yields.

Helpers and traditions

Despite the reduced harvest, the spirit of the helpers was excellent. Almost 50 volunteers pitched in to harvest the hop plants. The weather was summery and many helpers came from far away to take part in this custom. Among the helpers was Karl-Heinz Herbst, a native of Illschwanger who has lived in the USA for many years and used his visit home to actively help.

Another notable helper was Ernst Bodendörfer from Lauf, who was already involved in organizing the hop hives in 1990. At that time, Illschwang was recognized for its exemplary village renewal. Stowasser was also pleased about the presence of the two chairmen of the Kirwa community, Philipp Sellner and Florian Graf, who emphasized the importance of the traditions in the community.

Hop picking also offered an opportunity for Brigitte and Helmut Reichardt from Fürth, who have had a connection to Illschwang for many years. They reported that they learned a lot about the region through their cousin and regularly take part in events such as the Kirwa and the village Christmas. Helmut expressed his enthusiasm for the Upper Palatinate landscape and the regional cuisine.

The couple also runs an allotment garden in Fürth, where they proudly grow potatoes. Their experiences harvesting grapes near Fürth inspired them to help pick hops, which they did for the third time this year. You value the opportunity to make new acquaintances and talk to others.

In the afternoon, Bräu Arno Diener from Amberg, who is responsible for brewing the Illschwanger hop beer, also came. He brought a delicious snack for the helpers, which consisted of hearty meals as well as coffee and cake. These culinary delicacies rounded off the event and created a sociable atmosphere among the participants.