New 600 hectare asparagus farm in Berlin

There is competition amongst Germany's asparagus growers just north of Berlin. In the district of Oberhavel in 2016, a new large asparagus company from Bayern plan on cultivating 600 hectares. This area will total 40% of Beelitz's asparagus crop, which totals around 1500 hectares.

Josef Jakobs, is one of the asparagus growers from Beelitz, and he doesn't think this competition is any threat. However he is afraid that with the new large competitor, prices could fall. "Price pressure will rise for us all and smaller producers will particularly suffer," he explained.

"If only three or four large market players control the market then smaller producers will go under," warns Andreas Jende from horticultural association Berlin-Brandenburg. "Excess supply from Oberhavel could lead to a large surplus in asparagus. Brandenburg's market is already more than saturated with present supplies totalling 120%," warns Jende. This was also confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Manfred Schmidt, president of the 'Beelitzer Asparagus club', does not think there is any reason to panic. According to him, no asparagus grower in Beelitz has to worry about the competition. "Wholesalers are indeed filled to the roof with asparagus, but consumers in Beelitz want that. Beelitzer asparagus is now a serious brand and without a certain image, asparagus cannot sell as well."