Earlier harvests through the use of foil guarantees profitability of industry

Is earlier harvesting of asparagus of great relevance to the profitability of companies? What about area expansion for white and green asparagus? And what about the availability of harvest workers?

In order to better assess the current situation of asparagus producers in Germany, in the spring the Association of South German asparagus and strawberry growers e.V. (VSSE) conducted a survey among its asparagus growing members. 21 percent of its members, mainly in southwestern Germany, took part in the online survey.

Harvesting asparagus

Black and white foil is now standard
Three-quarters of the asparagus growers reported using black and white foil on their entire acreage. 11 percent of growers use the foil on 75 percent plus of the fields. 6 percent of growers use them for 50 percent plus of the fields. Only two asparagus farms said they did not use foil.

Black and white foil mini tunnel

More than 80 percent of the growers use mini-tunnels

Four percent of asparagus growers use mini-tunnels on more than three quarters of the acreage. 25 percent of growers use them on 50 plus percent of their acreage. 37 percent use them on 25 plus percent of the acreage. 17 percent of the growers use mini tunnels on up to a quarter of the acreage. 17 percent do not use mini-tunnels at all.

More than half of the producers use triple coverage

Overall, 56 percent of the asparagus growers have a third foil in use. Of these, 27 percent uses this on less than the quarter of the acreage. 17 percent of growers use it on 25 plus percent. Eight percent of growers use triple coverage on half the acreage and five percent use it on between 50 and 70 percent of their acreage.

According to the VSSE member survey on asparagus production, 42 percent of predominantly southwest German producers said that earlier asparagus (under three layers of foil) was necessary for operational profitability. 31 percent even emphasized that it was highly essential.

White asparagus dominates, green asparagus gaining ground

According to the VSSE survey, white asparagus accounts for 87.3% and green asparagus for 12.7% among member firms.

"I was surprised by this high percentage of green asparagus. With this number one must consider that the growers originate predominantly from the southwest German area. It can also be assumed that the online survey was attended by younger asparagus producers, who have started including green asparagus more and more,” says Simon Schumacher, spokesman for the Association of Southern German Asparagus and Strawberry Growers e.V. (VSSE).

One in four respondents to the survey intends to expand green asparagus production over the next three years. In the case of white asparagus, ten percent of the farms surveyed will increase their acreage as well.

For consumers, the proportion of green asparagus is increasing slowly but steadily. According to the Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft mbH (AMI), the share of green asparagus was 11 percent in 2017. Younger buyers in particular prefer green asparagus rather than white asparagus. This is partly due to the fact that green asparagus hardly needs any peeling. Source: Agrar-Informations-Gesellschaft mbH

Seasonal workers

Number of available seasonal harvesters declined sharply

20 percent of the surveyed asparagus producers said that the availability of seasonal workers had deteriorated significantly. 45 percent said that the number of seasonal workers had decreased slightly. 34 percent saw no change and only 1 percent of respondents said the situation had improved.

The VSSE has seen the need action on this issue for years. In order not to further exacerbate the situation, it advocates the retention of the 3-month or 70-day short-term employment scheme. Furtermore, the German Embassy in Belgrade launched an accelerated group procedure for visa applications for Serbian workers.

Association of Southern German asparagus and strawberry growers e.V.
The Association of Southern German asparagus and strawberry grower e.V. (VSSE) represents the interests of asparagus and strawberry growers in southern Germany. With over 600 members, VSSE is Germany's largest association for asparagus and strawberry growers.

For more information:
Association of South German asparagus and strawberry growers e.V.

Werner-von-Siemens-Str. 2-6 / Gebäude 5161
76646 Bruchsal
Simon Schumacher
Geschäftsführer / Vorstandssprecher
Tel.: +49 (0)7251 3032080
Fax: +49 (0)7251 3032095
schumacher@vsse.de