The domestic food retail trade is in the midst of a product range restructuring process. The marketing of domestic alternative edible potatoes has been completed. To bridge the gap until sufficient Austrian Heurige are available, the food retail industry has resorted to alternative goods from France, Germany and the Netherlands. The extremely wet and cold May so far delayed the growth of domestic early potatoes, according to the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture (LKÖ). Over the weekend, the first crops of early potatoes from the Styrian and Burgenland areas were harvested. However, with consistently good set, tuber size is still generally very small.
The yields per hectare are correspondingly disappointing and the available quantities thus quite manageable. No prices are quoted at present. However, price levels should be higher than in previous years in view of the tight supply situation and high import prices. In the early areas of Lower Austria, first clearings are planned for the coming week.
Fewer organic onions grown
Estimates of acreage development based on seed sales point to stable acreage development for onion in 2023, contrary to negative expectations in the fall. The pleasing price development in the second half of the season is likely to have contributed to this. However, due to the weaker consumer interest compared to previous years, the development of the organic onion area in Lower Austria is expected to decline. The organic area share in Lower Austria was recently around 18 percent for summer onions and around 15 percent for winter onions.
Declining carrot area
Lower Austrian carrot area is expected to decline slightly in 2023. Stalled sales are likely to have led to a reduction in area in 2022, especially in organic production, estimated at 10 percent or more in Lower Austria. According to the Field Vegetable Grower Survey, in 2020 the organic area share for carrots in Austria was 36 percent, in Lower Austria even 40 percent.
Source: LKÖ