The harvest of spring crops in the greenhouses in Franconian garlic country is gradually getting underway. For about a week, the first radishes from protected cultivation have also been in circulation. "However, these are still limited quantities, which go mainly via the Nuremberg wholesale market to smaller specialist stores and market traders. Only in about a week we will probably be able to deliver the first quantities to the food retail centers," says Stefanie Häring, market gardener at Ruff-Häring GbR.
This year, the vegetable farm in the heart of Knoblauchsland has opted for a new radish variety in its greenhouse. "We now exclusively cultivate the Neptune variety instead of the tried-and-true Rex. Due to the change in variety, the start of harvest is slightly delayed compared to last year, but otherwise the new variety has worked out perfectly in terms of cultivation. Compared to the old variety, it grows somewhat more evenly, which is why we ultimately expect higher yields," Ms. Häring explains.
It took almost exactly three months from sowing to harvesting the first radishes.
High priority in the trade
In terms of marketing, the season will only gradually pick up speed in the next few weeks, predicts. "Demand is already there because the radish is one of the first harbingers of spring from regional production. The crop accordingly has a high status in the regional specialized trade." Price-wise, the regional radish is currently at 1.60 euros/piece.
Apart from greenhouse radish, lettuces are also coming up.Soon, the first cucumbers from the greenhouse will also come out.
Open field radishes
Greenhouse radishes are usually traded until mid-to-late April, then seamlessly transition to harvest in the foil tunnel until early June. Häring says: "We stay out with the outdoor radish because we also start harvesting our main crop, the outdoor radish, by then. Due to the cold night temperatures until a few weeks ago, we will also be able to offer the first yields here later. From today's perspective, we won't see the first radishes until shortly after Easter."
Radishes are the vegetable farm's main summer crop
Wholesale business and harvesters
Ruff-Häring is a classic vegetable farm and supplies both the central warehouses of the regional food retail trade and the specialized trade. The latter sales channel is served by the company's own stand sales at the Nuremberg wholesale market. "The lockdown and especially the gastro closure are clearly making themselves felt in the wholesale market business, although fortunately we have little to do with gastronomy. On the production side, we were concerned that there would be too few harvest workers. Fortunately, enough seasonal workers have already arrived at our company, so we can start the summer season according to plan, despite Corona."
For more information:
Ruff-Häring GbR Gemüsebau
Stefanie Häring
Loher Hauptstraße 116
90427 Nürnberg
T. +49 911 345355
info@ruff-haering.de
www.ruff-haering.de