The German asparagus season ended on the 24th of June. Asparagus growers and consumers from the German federal state of Nordrhein-Westfalen had to be patient this year. With the cold spell in February and an unusually warm and dry March, many had anticipated the same early start to the season as last year. The harvest quantities were limited from beginning.
Asparagus growers from the federal state of Brandenburg have had a good harvest right from the start. "We are really satisfied," said grower Ernst-August Winkelmann. He runs, together with Jörg Buschmann from Klaistow, the largest asparagus company in Brandenburg. The harvest was so large this year due to the harvest in Brandenburn beginning earlier than usual. The warm month of March meant early sprouting for this noble fruit.
The ministry of agriculture in Brandenburg reported a good asparagus harvest after a survey of the area. "It wasn't an extremely good year, but it was a good year," said spokesman Jens-Uwe Schade. The crop yields were a little lower than in 2011 but prices were slightly higher for the most part. Asparagus growers had a record year in 2011. With a total of 14,300 tons, it was the second largest quantity of asparagus since the harvest of 1990. Harvest figures for 2012 should be announced in around three to four weeks. Only the Beelitz region was able to cut 7,000 to 8,000 tons of asparagus.