Hops and must: The fruit tree care hero from Leinfelden-Echterdingen!

Hops and must: The fruit tree care hero from Leinfelden-Echterdingen!

Helmut Steckroth, 75 years old, is a passionate fruit farmer from Leinfelden-Echterdingen who looks after over 50 fruit trees. In his orchard, which lies in the shadow of the airport, he likes to compare his trees to people who can suffer from stress. This special connection to nature is reflected not only in his care of the fruit trees, but also in the quality of the must he obtains from his harvested products. As Stuttgarter Nachrichten reports, Steckroth and his wife Anita enjoy up to 300 liters of must every year, made from old and traditional fruit varieties such as the Austrian wine pear, the Jakob Lebel cider apple and the red Boskoop.

The quantity and quality of the must are not random. Steckroth cares for his 28 fruit trees in Echterdingen and 25 in Stetten with great dedication, regularly removing the water shoots every three to four weeks in order to direct the trees' energy into the fruit. His care and selection of old fruit varieties recently earned him first prize at the Echterdinger Tracht must tasting in April. The award, which includes a certificate and a jug of cider, has found a place of honor in his kitchen.

Orchards as cultural heritage

Steckroth's commitment is part of a larger phenomenon: There are an estimated 300,000 hectares of orchards in Germany, especially in southern and central Germany. Regions such as the Swabian Orchard Paradise and the Swabian Mostviertel are known for their variety of fruit trees and the rich cultural landscape. As Hochstamm Deutschland reports, there are also significant stands of scattered fruit in other European countries such as France, Austria and the Czech Republic.

The care of these orchards is important not only for the preservation of biodiversity, but also for the preservation of a traditional cultural heritage. Apples, pears, plums and mirabelle plums are not just fruits, they are part of a centuries-old culture that is passed on from generation to generation. The old fruit varieties that Helmut Steckroth prefers help to guarantee the unique tastes and quality characteristics of must and other fruit products.

The preservation and maintenance of these valuable cultural landscapes is also an ecological necessity. Orchards provide habitat for numerous species of birds and insects and play a crucial role in the ecosystem. The commitment of people like Helmut Steckroth is therefore of great importance in order to secure these valuable holdings for future generations.