KernAktuell July 2020, News
Growing report & vegetation
Styrian oil pumpkin
The 2020 growing season commenced with a lack of rainfall in all growing areas. In the winter of 2019/20 and until May 2020, rain was rare. Although crop emergence was consistently satisfactory, the dry soil conditions meant that the oil pumpkin plants were unable to absorb sufficient nutrients and – in the dry regions in particular – could not develop sufficient plant mass before they flowered in June/July. The plants were weak when they started flowering.
Drought and hail cause problems for the 2020 crop
In Styria, this phenomenon is not as marked as it is in the dry regions of Lower Austria and on the whole “more massive” crops developed. Repeated hailstorms in all pumpkin-growing parts of Styria at the end of June resulted in significant damage. This led to the early onset of leaf death, triggered by zucchini yellow mosaic virus and fungal and bacterial diseases, which had a deleterious effect on fruit and seed formation, but some crops developed normally.
In recent years, organic oil pumpkin growing has developed almost exclusively in Austria and Ukraine. In the EU area, low prices and uncertainties with regard to pesticide pollution of soils hindered any steady development of growing areas. This will be a significant issue in the future development of organic pumpkin growing in Europe.
Our knowledge puts you one step ahead
In the brand-new Estyria Pumpkin Seed Report 2020 you can discover what this means for harvest yields in 2020, learn how conventional and organic growing areas in the different regions have developed and read about trends and variety availability on the pumpkin seed market in Austria and Europe. This is an exclusive service for Estyria customers – and the best market assessment for shell-free pumpkin seeds that you can get your hands on as a basis for decision making. If this is of interest, ask your Key Account Manager for a copy.
Ein kleiner Einblick
The biggest contract grower
of oil pumpkins PGI
Alwera AG, Estyria’s parent company, is responsible for production of the raw goods via a contract farming system. The two companies have for some years maintained the largest PDI area of oil pumpkin in Austria and they know the fields and the farmers personally.
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Traditional Styrian
stamp press process
While modernity has brought progress in many areas, the traditional Styrian stamp press process is still the best way of making pumpkin seed oil. The main difference between this and other pressing methods is that we work with open roasting pans. At our plant, people check when the pumpkin seeds are perfectly roasted and so will yield the very best oil. This enables our experienced oil millers to produce the pumpkin seed oil that has won more prizes than any other – and which as a result of this type of pressing retains all the natural constituents. The untreated oil is not filtered; the particles that make it cloudy settle naturally when the oil is left to rest.
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About us
We are the specialist for pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seed oil, pulses and mushrooms. Plus an extensive organic range of dry products. We are passionate about natural foods with high-quality ingredients..
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