Tomatoes, cucumbers and paprika are vegetables that matter to Germany, as over 40% of fresh produce sales goes to these three items. The domestic share, however, is slim. Between 2003 and 2012 the amount of German vegetables sold only increased with 4%.
Dr. Hans-Christoph Behr of the German 'Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft' (AMI) took an even closer look at these numbers during the most recent Fresh Produce Fair in Berlin. According to his analysis, the turnover of domestic tomatoes increased with a meagre 2%, from 6 to 8, in the last 5 years. Cucumbers are now around 10% and paprika are on less than 1%.
Behr, however, proved by way of a market breakdown that there is a large regional potential for local produce, in particular tomatoes. He claims there are lots of opportunities for regional growers. Johannes Bliestle is one of those people to take advantage of the opportunity. At the behest of a large food retailer, the manager of 'Reichenau-Gemüse eG' erected an eleven-hectare greenhouse in the vicinity of Hegau. Here, 3100 tons of paprika will be cultivated to supply local markets in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The first harvest is already in. Following this promising lead, growers on the Bodenmeer Island, in collaboration with Bioland, have agreed to dedicate three hectares to the cultivation of organic cucumber.