Strawberry-picking season commences in Saxony, with unaltered cost structured. - Stable strawberry prices during Saxony's harvest season.
Saxony's Strawberry Season Commences: Stable Prices, Waning Cultivation
Farmers in Saxony are now harvesting the first batches of strawberries, marking the beginning of the outdoor season. In contrast to the grim year 2024, which was marred by severe frost damage, expectations are high for this season. An anticipated yield of 1,500 tons is projected. However, concerns linger in the industry, as the area under strawberry cultivation in Saxony has persistently shrunk.
Jörg Geithel, chairman of the Fruit Growers' Association for Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, remarked during the season's opening at the Seelitz fruit farm in Central Saxony that the weather has not presented any unforeseen obstacles this year. Although the recent cool temperatures have slowed the ripening of the strawberries, they should not compromise the fruit's quality or quantity.
The shrinking cultivation area for strawberries in Saxony is a persistent trend. This year, the fields are being tended on 175 hectares. In comparison, last year saw 208 hectares under cultivation, while in the early 2000s, there were over 600 hectares.
Fruit farmers attribute this decline to several factors. These include escalating labor and operational costs, complicated approval procedures for necessary plant protection products, and intense price competition from European producers in the South.
Moreover, farmers express reservations about a potential increase in the current minimum wage of 12.82 euros to 15 euros. Geithel stated that such a change in minimum wage could render them uncompetitive in the European market. An exemption for agriculture in the minimum wage regulation process is deemed desirable by them.
Approximately 70% of Saxon strawberries are earmarked for direct marketing and pick-your-own customers. Consumers can expect to pay roughly 5 euros for a 500-gram punnet. Although prices have remained consistent with last year, about 30% of local strawberries are sold through supermarkets, where sales are dominated by imports from Spain, Greece, and the Netherlands.
In conclusion, while the strawberry industry in Saxony grapples with declining cultivation areas and cost pressures, the current season is anticipated to yield bountiful harvests. However, the long-term viability of the strawberry industry hinges on addressing the aforementioned challenges.
- Saxony
- Strawberry
- Strawberry season
- Minimum wage
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Central Saxony
- The common agricultural policy could be instrumental in addressing the challenges faced by fruit farmers in Saxony, such as escalating costs, approval procedures, and intense price competition from European producers, thereby securing a sustainable future for the strawberry industry.
- As more emphasis is placed on organic and locally sourced food-and-drink products as part of a healthier lifestyle, the demand for fresh strawberries from Saxony's home-and-garden grown farms may continue to rise, providing a strong incentive for farmers to maintain and expand their common agricultural policy- supported cultivation.
