The asparagus season is almost over - it is time for new fruits and vegetables on the market. A popular product that traditionally heralds the end of asparagus is the chanterelle mushroom. This speciality has been back in the assortment at the Frischezentrum Melzig in Aschaffenburg for some two weeks now.
"We used to have smaller volumes, but now they are increasing significantly. The asparagus season ended a little early this year and accordingly, summer products such as chanterelles and porcini mushrooms are making their way onto the German market earlier," says Denis Piper from Melzig LLC.
The reopening of the catering trade also plays a major role: "In recent weeks and months, our focus has naturally been more on supplying the food retail trade, and now the catering trade is also back in business. There too, the change from asparagus to mushrooms is currently taking place. All in all, we are noticing the easing up, people are going out again and so sales are slowly rising again". Of course, pre-crisis levels have not yet been reached, but the movement is welcomed.
Although mushrooms are not a seasonal product at the Melzig company, it is noticeable that they get more and more momentum in summer. "The barbecue season is becoming more and more the mushroom season. Consumers are paying more and more attention to a healthy diet and vegetarian or vegan dishes are on the rise - of which mushrooms are an integral part. Whether in the form of burgers or skewers, mushrooms are landing on the grill more and more often."
Most of the volumes sold in Aschaffenburg are imported. Eastern European countries are the most important suppliers: "We currently get our chanterelles from Bulgaria. In the course of the season we also get mushrooms from Romania and to a lesser extent from Russia and Belarus."
The prices of the goods are still hovering at the average price for the last few years, depending on the classification. However, due to the coronavirus, Piper expects price to not drop as quickly in the course of the season. "At the beginning of the season, volumes are still small and that means prices are high. In the case of strawberries and cherries, for example, one can see that prices remained more stable in the middle of the season. I expect this to happen with other products as well."
For more information:
Denis Piper
Melzig GmbH
Frischezentrum Aschaffenburg
Magnolienweg 46
63741 Aschaffenburg
Tel: 06021 / 15087-52
www.melzig-gmbh.de