This year's strawberry harvest is now in full swing in large parts of the DACH region. However, harvest prospects vary greatly in the individual growing regions. FreshPlaza.de has compiled the latest comments from the respective regions on the current harvest.
German fruit dominated the wholesale markets over Dutch fruit. According to the BLE, Belgian, Greek, Italian, Polish, and Spanish produce was also available in Germany, but only played a minor role. In terms of quality, domestic and Dutch products were generally impressive: despite increased availability, retailers were mostly able to confirm their previous orders. However, price increases were also reported in some places.
North Rhine-Westphalia: Hail leads to total economic loss
The last few weeks have been anything but easy for strawberry growers in the eastern Ruhr Area. The start had been promising. "The wet winter and lots of sun in March and April were, of course, very helpful," said Hammer Erdbeerhof Kötter. Shortly before Easter, a hailstorm severely damaged the one-year-old early varieties in the fields in Wiescherhöfen. It had not been forecast like this. "We can almost speak of a total economic loss here."
The harvest has now also begun in the Lower Rhine region. "The quality and quantity are good," says Christian Bonnen, a strawberry grower in the Neuss area. However, strawberries have become pricier for consumers. "We are currently charging EUR 4.50 for a 500-gram punnet, compared to EUR 3.50 at the same time last year."
Bavaria: Drought leads to a difficult harvest year
Fruit growers in Franconia are looking at their harvest with concern, especially cherry growers. The prolonged drought is becoming increasingly noticeable. The less water the trees get, the smaller the cherries are. This can also affect the price. But it's not just cherries that are suffering from the drought, says Hermann Greif, president of the Upper Franconia district association of the Bavarian Farmers' Association. "We're also having problems with other crops such as strawberries. Here, too, there is a severe lack of water. We haven't had even 30 liters of rain in the past two months. We would need considerably more in a month to achieve good yields."
Frost and pests have hardly played a role so far this year, Greif continues. However, if there is no rain soon, many fruit and vegetable farmers in the region face a difficult harvest year.
Lower Saxony: 'Top-quality regional strawberries expected'
The first strawberries are already on sale in Lower Saxony and the Hanover region. This is due to the weather conditions of the past few weeks. This has greatly accelerated the ripening process in many growing regions. "Thanks to the dry spring with sunny days and cool nights, we have ideal conditions," said Felix Koschnick, berry fruit expert at the Lower Saxony Chamber of Agriculture, in response to a dpa inquiry. This combination ensures sweet, storable fruit – and thus an earlier start to the season. "I expect strawberries from Lower Saxony to be of top quality in stores."
Baden-Württemberg/Black Forest: High demand for the first Ortenau strawberries
Demand for the first Ortenau strawberries is already high, according to regional producers. "Marketing is going very well. Strawberries can also be grown in Germany until late autumn, but there is still a kind of craving for strawberries in May. We are currently very satisfied and delighted to be able to offer our customers delicious strawberries," they explain. "As soon as the weather is nice, demand is very high. I can sell the strawberries fresh from the field."
Schleswig-Holstein: Satisfactory sales of tunnel strawberries
According to the Schleswig-Holstein Chamber of Agriculture, producers in Germany's northernmost state are in the middle of the tunnel strawberry harvest. "These are the first strawberries grown under cover that are ripe," a spokeswoman for the chamber told the dpa. The early varieties will follow in the coming days, but it will be several weeks before harvesting begins in the fields. "The fruits are of very good quality, especially due to the cold nights," said the spokeswoman. Farms in Schleswig-Holstein are satisfied with sales so far.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Outdoor strawberries urgently need rain
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, farms harvested their first greenhouse strawberries at the end of March, reported Rolf Hornig, managing director of the Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association. After the tunnel strawberries, farmers there are now waiting for the first outdoor fruits. Due to the current dry weather, there are fewer problems with fungal infestation in strawberries. The strawberries harvested so far have generally been watered. "The strawberries grown outdoors urgently need rain, as do crops, forests, and everything else," said the spokesperson for the Chamber of Agriculture.
Austria: Consumers spending more on strawberries
Fresh outdoor strawberries are currently available throughout Austria. The trend toward regionality remains strong—62 percent of households purchase almost exclusively domestic products. Per capita consumption remains steady at 3.5 kilograms, while spending has increased by 7.5 percent compared to last year. The AMA seal of approval guarantees the certified origin and quality of the strawberries. According to RollAMA, Austrian households consumed around 11,656 tons of strawberries in 2024, which corresponds to a per capita consumption of 3.5 kilograms. Austrians spent a total of EUR 83,027 on strawberries, an increase of 7.5 percent over the previous year. Organic strawberries account for 4 percent of the volume and 5 percent of the value. This makes strawberries one of the most popular domestic fruits and an indispensable part of Austrian cuisine.
Burgenland: 'Excellent quality, sufficient quantities'
"The local favorite fruit is available again this year in excellent quality and sufficient quantities," said Nikolaus Berlakovich, President of the Burgenland Chamber of Agriculture, at the start of the strawberry season in Wiesen. In Burgenland, around 40 farms cultivate 70 hectares of strawberries. The main growing area is in the district of Mattersburg, in the region around Wiesen. Most of the fruit is grown outdoors. Two percent is grown under protective cover in polytunnels. "This method of production is becoming increasingly important as it guarantees production reliability with consistent fruit quality."
Switzerland: Record harvest in sight
The first Swiss strawberries have been available in stores since the end of April. The weather conditions so far have producers feeling optimistic. According to the Swiss Fruit Association, plenty of sunshine and mild temperatures are ensuring excellent quality. In the week after Easter, 22 tons were harvested. During the main harvest season, from mid-May to mid-June, the Swiss Fruit Association expects 900 to 1,100 tons per week. A total harvest of around 7,500 tons is expected.
