This year's white cabbage season started unusually early at Schöni Swissfresh AG. The first white cabbage arrived at the processing company in Oberbipp at the beginning of July. "Thanks to ideal weather conditions in the spring, with a good balance of dry and rainy periods and mild temperatures, the early white cabbage was able to thrive almost perfectly. It is particularly positive that the plants developed so quickly that they covered the ground early during the heatwave in June, effectively reducing evaporation," explains Andrea Schöni, sales and management director at the Swiss processing company.
© Schoeni Swissfresh AG
The first organic white cabbage of the season arrived for processing at the beginning of July. The organic share at Schoeni Swissfresh AG is 30%.
However, not all crops benefited equally. Plants that were planted later and had not yet reached ground cover in the extreme June heat suffered significantly more from the weather conditions. Growing companies without sufficient irrigation facilities were at a clear disadvantage. In addition, there was local hail damage, fortunately, mostly without serious effects on the heart of the cabbage. Nevertheless, the damage to the leaves made additional plant protection measures necessary. "We hope that the affected crops will now be able to recover well," says Schöni. Founded in 1920, the family-owned company has been one of Switzerland's largest sauerkraut producers for many years and is considered the main supplier to the domestic retail trade. In addition to classic sauerkraut, its largest product in terms of volume, Schöni Swissfresh AG also produces beetroot, red cabbage, and sour turnips.
© Schoeni Swissfresh AG
Andrea Schöni has been responsible for sales, innovation, and marketing for ten years.
Supplementary imports from Germany, France, and Poland
The transition from the old to the new harvest did not go entirely smoothly this year. "The 2024 white cabbage harvest was significantly affected by extreme weather conditions and pest pressure, which led to noticeable crop losses. To maintain delivery capacity until the start of the new harvest, we had to temporarily rely on imports from Germany, France, and Poland, among other countries. However, processing can now be switched back to Swiss raw materials."
Sauerkraut and fermented products still trending
Looking back on the 2024/25 sauerkraut season, the picture is positive. Demand for fermented vegetables remains stable and is growing, particularly in the health-conscious consumer market. "Fermented products such as sauerkraut and kimchi are more popular than ever. They are considered healthy, natural, and fit perfectly into modern diets," says Schöni. These products are also increasingly being eaten raw, as a refreshing lettuce or as an ingredient in bowls, sandwiches, and other trendy dishes. "In summer, raw sauerkraut, which is particularly healthy and valuable due to its active, live lactic acid bacteria, is consumed much more frequently than in the past."
© Schoeni Swissfresh AG
Focus on sustainability and innovation
Schöni Swissfresh is also focusing on future topics for the new harvest. "Several innovative product lines with a focus on naturalness and health are currently in development. When these will come onto the market is still open at this stage." Sustainability plays an important role for the processing company, not only in its recipes, but also in its packaging and production. "We obtain over 85 percent of the process heat we need for cooking and heating from our wood chip furnace, which is fired with wood chips from Oberbipp. This has made us CO2-neutral since 2009. In June 2024, we commissioned a PV system (2,475 solar modules on 7,700 m2 of roof space). Our packaging is continuously tested and optimized wherever possible."
Long-term challenges for the sector
In the long term, the challenges in white cabbage cultivation are increasing. Pressure from pests, weeds, and fungal diseases is constantly increasing, while at the same time, fewer and fewer pesticides are being approved. This is compounded by increasingly unpredictable weather conditions. "However, we can rely on our many years of experience and the expertise of traditional producers, some of whom have been growing white cabbage for generations," concludes Schöni.
For more information:
Andrea Schöni
Schöni Swissfresh AG
Niedermattstrasse 30
CH-4538 Oberbipp
Phone: +41 32 636 60 84
www.schoenifood.ch