Schwerin, Germany – Despite the cost increases in all means of production, the asparagus growers in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (M-V) are cautiously optimistic about the coming season:
“While the past asparagus season was still under the immediate shock of the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine, the high-priced seasonal item asparagus became a luxury good as a result of the high inflation rate and many companies left the season early. This year we assume that we will have these noble German vegetables by the end of the stinging period, on 24th June, at moderate prices again.
Since the supply and thus price development essentially depend on the weather, this year it will be mainly about stretching supply peaks for asparagus growers. Film foil management on asparagus dams is the decisive instrument for yield control. Black foil warms the dams while white foil reflects the sunlight and thus delays the too rapid warming of the soil. “In addition, the offer can be stretched a little by choosing earlier, medium-early and later varieties,” said Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s Minister of Agriculture Dr. Till Backhaus, today, on the farm of Mecklenburger Frische GmbH in Gülzow-Püzen near Güstrow. Here, he officially opened this year’s asparagus campaign, together with the district administrator of the district of Rostock.
In 2022, white asparagus was used in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on an area of approx.156 hectares cultivated. Around 616 tons were reaped, which corresponds to an average yield of 3.9 tons per hectare. According to the Federal Statistical Office, there were about 110,300 tons of asparagus on around 21,300 hectares throughout Germany. Compared to the pre-COVID year 2019, which was at the same time something like the zenith year in German asparagus cultivation, this marks an area decline of around 15 percent in M-V and around 7.5 percent nationwide. Earnings (-12% in M-V and -15 percent in Germany) are also declining.
In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the first asparagus was harvested shortly before Easter: “This first free-range product comes from asparagus dams that are protected by the covering with foils and mini tunnels in order to premature the harvest. Even a little sunshine under it leads to a quick increase in the soil temperature and allows the sprouts to grow from the asparagus roots. However, due to the higher costs, this cultivation system is only suitable for a limited cultivation area,” the minister explained.
Traditionally, the prices for the first asparagus sticks are higher, he continued. This is related to the overall increased production costs, but also to the new minimum wage. This has been so since the 1st of October, 2022 when the wage turned to 12.00 euros per hour, which corresponds to a wage increase of 22 percent compared to the minimum wage of 9.82 euros/hour in last year’s asparagus season. According to Minister Backhaus, after the turmoil of the corona years, the availability of seasonal workers from Central and Eastern Europe, especially from Bulgaria, Poland and Romania, is secured.
The asparagus sticks in class 1 are currently offered for between 9 and 12 euros/kg, he continued. In 2022, the seasonal average price for asparagus was 8.62 euros/kg. That was four percent less than in 2021. “Most consumers prefer asparagus from the region because they want to know where it comes from and who grows it. Above all, shopping directly from producers guarantees daily fresh quality,” stressed the minister. Clearly ahead in terms of the favor of the population is white asparagus, with one kilogram of purchase quantity per capita, followed by green asparagus with only 0.15 kilograms per capita.
Source: Agrar-presseportal.de