The region Styria is where the most Chinese cabbage is grown, followed by Burgenland and Tirol. The Austrian farmers can supply the main part of the domestic demand for Chinese cabbage. The self-sufficiency rate is around 80% and the average consumption is 3.6 kilos per person.
Chinese cabbage takes third place in the leafy greens category, after iceberg lettuce and green lettuce. Every second household buys Chinese cabbage from time to time. And it is especially popular with families.
Franz Kober (spokesperson for Chinese cabbage from Styria), vice-president Maria Pein, Johann Seitinger and Fritz Rauer, president of the Austrian vegetable producers at the announcement of the start of the Chinese cabbage season.
The local production of the vegetables is, according to the most recent AMA-survey, important for many customers. Every second respondent stated that they consciously bought local vegetables and checked the label for the place of origin. The growing season of a vegetable is important for more than a third of the respondents.
“Chinese cabbage perfectly fits with the other winter vegetables. It can be grown in the open field till late in the year and because it can be stored easily the Chinese cabbage is a source of locally grown vitamins,” states Karin Silberbauer, AMA’s fruit and vegetables marketing manager. In a free 24 page long brochure AMA presents all types of cabbage with a range of typical winter recipes.
Source: AMA.at