Germany: Less lettuce and onions

In 2017, about 592,000 tons of outdoor vegetables were harvested in Rhineland-Palatinate. The harvest volume was slightly below the previous year's level of about 615,000 tonnes. The acreage comprised 19,500 hectares, similar to the year before. Organic cultivation, which accounted for six percent of the general survey in 2016, has increased.

Approximately 57 percent of field crops were roots and tubers, followed by leafy and stemmed vegetables with 22 percent of the total crop and 34 percent of the acreage. There was slightly less of both types of vegetables than in the previous year. In the case of leafy and stemmed vegetables, the amounts cultivated also tended to be lower.

The root and tuber vegetables include radishes, wild carrots and carrots, spring onions and dry onions, which are still among the best-growing vegetables in Rhineland-Palatinate. The smaller harvest of roots and tubers is due to a lower cultivation area and harvest losses. The most cultivated vegetables as far as leaf and stemmed vegetables go are asparagus and lamb's lettuce. Losses on all cultivated lettuce varieties have led to lower crop yields for leafy and stemmed vegetables.