Based on the acreage the asparagus is one of most important vegetables in Germany. With 22 percent of the total agricultural land the asparagus almost reaches a quarter share.
The Federal Statistical Office calculated that last year the other, significantly smaller, shares were onions and carrots.
Almost one-tenth (9 percent) of the German agricultural acreage is organically farmed, and a larger acreage of carrots than asparagus. The organic variant of asparagus has five percent of the total area in this country, a niche existence.
According to market expert Michael Koch it is hardly possible to market organic asparagus, because with the usual overhead on organic produce it reaches a premium price.
Furthermore 40 percent of the asparagus sales in Germany takes place on weekly markets or direct sales at farm shops. Both locations convince consumers that it sells trustworthy products that the consumers can have confidence in. Even without a special seal of quality, as proof.
Another niche product in Germany is green asparagus. It grows up out of the bed and becomes green under influence of the sun. In Lower Saxony, the largest asparagus farming area, green asparagus farming is less than ten percent of the area.