A total of 68 farms cultivated vegetables in 2016. Of these 68 farms, 30 cultivated the vegetables in high tunnels and greenhouses. According to the Statistical Office the open field acreage in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern increased with 5.2%, compared to 2015, to 1,709 hectares. The largest surface, 1,242 hectares (72.6%) is situated in the Southwest (Landkreis Ludwigslust-Parchim). Furthermore, 256 hectares (15%) is used for organic vegetables.
In recent years a trend indicated a concentration on the cultivation of just a few vegetables, such as lettuce, however this trend did not continue in 2016. These popular vegetables now account for almost 35% of the open field acreage. The 219 hectares used for asparagus cultivation remained on the same level as the previous year.
In 2016 the acreage for broccoli and romaine lettuce, also know as cos lettuce, was significantly higher than 300 hectares. Furthermore there was an increase in the acreage of cauliflower, root chicory, iceberg lettuce and carrots. They are each cultivated on 100 hectares or more. Due to supply and demand as well as changing consumption habits several vegetable varieties were subject to greater fluctuations compared to the previous years. In 2016 several lettuce varieties, pumpkins, courgettes and broad beans were subject to these fluctuations. Other vegetable varieties were rediscovered and grown on small plots, such as chard, aubergines, turnips, Florence fennel, parsnips and parsley roots.
A total of 30 farms cultivate on 16.4 hectares vegetables in high tunnels and greenhouses. This surface remained at the same level as the previous years and 3,144 metric tons of vegetables were harvested. The largest share of the harvest consisted of tomatoes with a yield of 2,834 metric tons on 9.8 hectares, followed at a considerable distance by lambs’ lettuce with 2.1 hectares and cucumbers with 1.4 hectares.
In 2016, 28 farms which cultivate vegetables in the open field (+7 compared to 2015) completely converted to organic farming and in the same year 17 high tunnel and greenhouse farms also converted to organic farming.