Weather-related delay and decreased harvests

The Austrian strawberry harvest started this year at the beginning of June, about two weeks later than usual. Due to the weather strawberry producers expect a small harvest. Cold nights and even snow led to considerable damage and in some places complete loss of the crops. 

In this region the frost has caused enormous damage. Almost all harvests have been damaged. The area around Wiesen has the largest acreage of strawberries and has suffered the most damage. The agricultural experts expect a loss of 70% to 100% in the early varieties. The damage of the later strawberry varieties is smaller.

In Styria experts believe that a third of the average amount can be harvested this year. Strawberries grown in greenhouses, tunnels or other areas that were not affected by the frost are already being harvested.

According to current estimates the yield is reduced by about 20%. Due to the frost at the end of April, this damage caused the harvest to start later in this region.

In the region of Upper Austria, the strawberries were damaged by frost too. However there are still sufficient strawberries, both for the retail and on the pick-your-own fields. Strawberries grown under covers are already being harvest. In the Eferdinger basin the harvest for food retail has already started too. In the first weekend of June most pick-your-own fields opened their doors. And mid-June the harvest in the higher areas will start.

However Karin Silberbauer, AMA Marketing Manager for fruit and vegetables, is confident: “Despite the difficult situation the farmers tried their hardest. And thanks to their efforts, consumers can enjoy local strawberries. We should especially value this special fruit right now,” states Karin Silberbauer. Most consumers buy their strawberries in the supermarket, and 15% buys them elsewhere, for instance directly from the farmer (see graph).