Better weather conditions than last previous year will lead to a larger strawberry harvest in 2018. According to a preliminary estimate, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) estimates that the expected yield of open field strawberries in Germany is around 122,300 tonnes, 6% more than last year. In contrast, the corresponding acreage has fallen by 3% to 12,500 hectares.
Nearly two-thirds of strawberry production is accounted for by the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia (30,300 tonnes, year-on-year change: + 14%), Lower Saxony (28,000 tonnes, - 14%) and Baden-Württemberg (21,500 tonnes, + 23%).
Regarding asparagus, the late start of spring 2018 caused a delayed harvest. According to initial estimates, asparagus production remains almost constant compared to year before (- 1%), amounting to 129,600 tonnes.
The yield of the asparagus acreage in 2018 will be around 23,100 hectares. Both the acreage (+ 11%) and the yield (+ 14%) are above the six-year average. With 26,500 tonnes, most of the asparagus was harvested in Lower Saxony, followed by Brandenburg with 22,200 tonnes and Bavaria with 21,800 tonnes.
Preliminary results on asparagus and strawberry crops and yields are initial estimates from the representative preliminary survey in June. They therefore provide general trends for the year 2018. Final results will be published after the completion of the autumn vegetable survey.
Source: destatis