In Germany, this year's asparagus harvest will be finished in just over 2 weeks. Shortly before the end of the season, growers and marketers now make up a preliminary balance. After the difficult year 2018, the market was able to recover in most growing areas.
Mittelmark: Producers are satisfied
After a bad year in 2018, the Brandenburg asparagus farmers can breathe safely again this year. In just over 14 days, on 24 June, the asparagus harvest traditionally ends. Heinrich Thiermann of Mehrfruchthof Mötzow told the Märkische Allgemeine he was relieved about this harvest.
"We are satisfied because the growth was consistent with consumer behavior," says Thiermann. "In contrast to last year, we had a cool May, which did not lead to overproduction," he says. "In contrast to last year, we had a moderate heat. This has led to continuous consumption."
Baden: moderate production
In the Baden growing areas, below-average production is predicted. "The 2018 heat has strained the asparagus plants, which has its effects on the 2019 season," Fisching producer Susanne Denzer told the Oberbadische. Lorenz Boll, Managing Director of the Producers Wholesale Market, sees this as well. "We will probably only achieve two-thirds of a crop compared to the long-term average," he believes.
It is gratifying, according to Denzer and Boll, that the clientele went along with them and that, at least at the beginning of the season, good prices were also achieved.
Bavaria: "Cold has affected asparagus production"
The asparagus season in southern Germany this year will end a little earlier than usual. The weather has plagued the green asparagus in particular, says the Augsburger Allgemeine.
Only a few years ago, asparagus was cultivated on the western Lech side in the district of Augsburg as well. This year, the season was a bit different than usual. One of the few asparagus farmers is Stephan Seibold from "Seibolds Obsthof" in Augsburg-Inningen. He explains: "The asparagus grew strongly in the spring. However, the cool weather has hampered production as the asparagus cannot grow that much." Even though it is very warm now, the asparagus season will end earlier this year.
Lower Saxony: Regional asparagus continues to be popular
"If you are modest, you are sooner satisfied faster. Even more so after the drought of 2018," says Fred Eickhorst of the Association of asparagus and berry growers in Lower Saxony. As early as late March, Lower Saxony's asparagus growers were able to start the harvesting process for early and middle varieties. Currently, the later varieties are being harvested, and by the end of the season -on June 24- consumers will have enough asparagus available, Eickhorst told the Landvolk Presse Dienst.
The fact that May was quite cold after a warm start did not bother the asparagus growers. "The asparagus does not need the very warm weather. The mild temperatures made for adequate amounts. Supply and demand were balanced, the growers achieved their sales and they are completely satisfied," reports Eickhorst. New techniques and more productive varieties also liven up the asparagus market. There were also enough harvest workers on the farms. "There are no asparagus left in the field," notes Eickhorst, despite the tense workforce situation.
Although the early and rapid start of the season surprised some companies, harvesters were initially absent. But in the course of the season, there were enough hard-working employees who carefully brought the vegetables of the ground. In Lower Saxony, the "queen of vegetables" is cultivated on 5,700 hectares. If Fred Eickhorst had his way, it would be a smaller acreage. "For normal weather, we have too many asparagus fields," says Eickhorst.
For more information:
Domstiftsgut Mötzow
Gutshof 1, 14778 Beetzseeheide
+49 3 38 36 - 20 80
info@domspargel.de
www.vielfruchthof.de
OGS Obst- und Gemüsevertrieb Südbaden GmbH
GF: Lorenz Boll
Niederrotweil 80 • 79235 Vogtsburg
T +49 (0) 7662 9300 0
F +49 (0) 7662 9300 93
E-Mail: info@ogs-suedbaden.de
Internet: www.ogs-suedbaden.de
Seibold Erdbeeren
Oktavianstrasse 61
86199 Augsburg
0821 / 9 54 23
E-Mail: info@Seibold-Erdbeeren.de
www.Seibold-Erdbeeren.de
Vereinigung der Spargel- und Beerenanbauer e.V.
GF: Fred Eickhorst
Steinstraße 14
26209 Hatten
Tel. 04482 9082130
kontakt@spargelundbeerenanbauer.de