Strawberry farms in North Rhine-Westphalia produced 17,347 tons of strawberries this year on 1,930 hectares (-7.4 percent) of open field acreage. Via cultivation under protective covers (including greenhouses), an additional 7 410 tons of strawberries were harvested on 439 hectares (+0.9 percent).
According to Information und Technik Nordrhein-Westfalen, the state's statistical office, based on preliminary results of the vegetable survey, the quantity of strawberries harvested in the open was 34.2 percent lower than in the previous year, and the quantity harvested under high protective cover was 17.4 percent lower. In addition to the reduced acreage, the main reason for the decline was the delayed start to harvesting due to the cold, wet and sunless spring. In addition, above-average temperatures in June followed by storms led to losses in both the quantity and quality of strawberries grown outdoors.
Statisticians further report that 3,774 hectares of asparagus were grown in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2021 on a 2.3 percent reduction in acreage compared to the previous year. The total amount of asparagus harvested was 18,696 tons, 5.3 percent lower year-on-year.