Commercial farming has changed dramatically over the past thirty years. Whereas in the past large-crowned, high-stemmed and therefore labor-intensive apple trees dominated, the majority of today's apple orchards are exclusively low trunk forms. Due to the low height, ten to twenty times as many trees can be planted in rows. The breeding objectives focus on a good yield, consistent quality yield, consistent quality in size, color, taste and resistance to diseases and pests. Only a few selected apple varieties are grown, and some are harvested by machine. Fully mechanized equipment is used for soil care, plant protection and fertilization. Hydraulically or pneumatically operated shears and saws are used for pruning.

The orchard meadow, also known regionally as fruit meadow or bongert, is the traditional form of fruit cultivation. For the market it is of little importance today. In the orchard meadows trees, mostly of different ages and of different fruit species and varieties, are scattered together. Within Germany orchards have declined by about 50 percent between 1965 and today.

This is mainly due to large-scale clearing operations in the 1970s. In the meantime, there has been a rethinking with regard to orchard cultivation: Scientific studies point to the enormous biodiversity and importance of orchards as habitats for rare animal and plant species. Already one apple tree can provide food and a habitat for more than 3,000 animal, insect and plant species.