The demand for Bavarian asparagus has so far fallen well short of expectations this year. According to the association, things did not go so well for local asparagus farmers in April and May, especially in retail. Overall sales are likely to be ten to 15 percent below an average year, said Claudia Westner, chairwoman of the asparagus producers’ association in Schrobenhausen.
The weather was not unfavourable. But due to a lack of demand, the farmers could not push through the prices that they actually need. “It’s going quite well at the moment,” the weather is playing along, and things are going well in the catering industry, said Westner. But in a week the Whitsun holidays will start in Bavaria, many customers will go on vacation.
In Franconia, the companies are likely to have sold between ten and 20 percent less asparagus, said Miriam Adel, chairwoman of the Franconia Asparagus Producers Association. In particular, retail sales have declined. Because of the increased cost of living, people are apparently more economical – after all, asparagus is the most expensive local vegetable.
The start of the season in March was unusually early
At the start of the season in March, prices were above the previous year’s level, but then they fell and in some cases even fell below them. Good for consumers, bad for asparagus farmers – who, after two years of corona restrictions for harvest workers and gastronomy, are now expecting a sharp increase in operating costs due to energy prices and minimum wages.
They were still optimistic about the unusually early start of the season in March: “We were well prepared, the weather was good, the helpers were there,” said Adel. The first stalks were already harvested at the end of March. Then, in April, it suddenly got cooler, and there was snow in Schrobenhausen – that not only curbed the asparagus, but also the appetite of consumers.
The harvest has already been completed on the fields with the early asparagus varieties, on others it is still going on for four weeks. On June 24th the season in Bavaria is over for this year.