Extreme heat and drought throughout have severely impacted fruit and vegetable production. The Landwirtschaftskammer Österreich and ÖBOG report a 30 percent drop in fruit yields, while vegetable harvests fell by an average of 40 percent nationwide.
Specific crops faced significant losses, with cabbage yields dropping 50 percent in some areas. While onions and carrots saw 25 percent losses, tomatoes stopped growing during peak summer heat. The apple harvest is forecast at just 130,000 tons for 2026.
The agricultural crisis is compounded by the closure of the Ardo plant, affecting 500 suppliers. Farmers were forced to halt autumn spinach sowing due to the shutdown. Despite some autumn recovery for peppers and cucumbers, overall output remains low.