Juicy Joys in the North - Kicking off Strawberry Season in NRW
Strawberry season starts in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the most loved berry chosen - Peak Time for Cherished Red Fruit: Strawberry Harvest in NRW
Here comes everyone's favorite sweet treat, slightly earlier than usual! The sunny march in NRW has sprinted things up a bit, as crop advisor Bernd Möllers from the Chamber of Agriculture North Rhine-Westphalia cheerfully tells us. This sun-kissed March has given birth to the main strawberry season in Germany, which stretches from May to late July. NRW's Minister of Agriculture, Silke Gorißen (CDU), will visit a farm in the Westphalian town of Selm on Friday to mark the opening of the season with a celebratory wave.
Strawberries in NRW are still priced a bit higher, at around 8.19 Euros per kilogram, according to the Agricultural Market Information Company (AMI). In comparison, back in the same week last year, strawberries cost 8.08 Euros per kilogram. Last year's average price of German strawberries hovered around 6.69 Euros.
Peter Muß, the deputy managing director of the Provincial Association of Rhine Fruit and Vegetable Growers, explains that the high price at the start of the season is due primarily to supply and demand. With fewer quantities available and early strawberries originating from greenhouses and tunnels, the effort required is significantly higher. AMI predicts that prices will soon drop—good news for strawberry lovers!
farming challenges
Muß goes on to point out that the expenses involved in strawberry farming have significantly risen over the years. "Minimum wage, sky-high energy costs, astronomically expensive operating materials like foil, fertilizer, etc. have surged in recent times,” he reveals. The Chamber of Agriculture North Rhine-Westphalia estimates that labor costs represent approximately 50 to 60 percent of the strawberry price tag.
A colossal 40 different strawberry varieties are cultivated in North Rhine-Westphalia—each tantalizing our taste buds with its unique flavor, resilience, and yield. When you're purchasing these luscious berries directly from the producer, Möllers adds, you'll often find out which variety is currently in season. The vibrant hue range of strawberries stretches from the sunny orange to the rich, dark red. Despite the hype around it, a new white strawberry fruit has yet to make its mark. The popular French variety Gariguette fares poorly here, as its artificial taste has failed to win over locals.
protected cultivation rising
Currently, around 340 businesses in North Rhine-Westphalia are growing strawberries across 1,600 hectares in the open field, while 500 hectares are under protective cover, like foil or in tunnels. "The trend is moving towards protected cultivation," Möllers insists. The strawberries cultivated under protective cover tend to fair better during harsh weather, like the rainy summer of 2024, and have the advantage over field-grown strawberries when it comes to consistency and quality.
The primary growing regions are the Cologne region, the Lower Rhine, the Münsterland, and East Westphalia. In recent years, self-picking fields have also started to emerge.
- NRW
- Strawberry season
- Strawberry
- North Rhine-Westphalia
- Strawberry harvest
- AMI
- Plants
- Minister of Agriculture
- CDU
- Selm
Intriguing Tidbits
Each region around the world follows its own strawberry production timeline, with countries like Sicily reporting an early start, as their season kicked off in November and is set to end in May[1]. This consistency in production can be observed in certain regions, although special conditions may prevail in different areas.
Keep in mind: Prices in the strawberry market have climbed due to reduced supply—something witnessed in recent weeks with an approximate 5.6% increase in strawberry prices compared to the previous week[1].
Farmers are grappling with rising costs across various domains, including labor and materials. An early start to the season might necessitate additional resources, potentially impacting costs. However, if the early season translates into increased yields or superior quality, farmers could benefit from escalating prices[1]. By capitalizing on early demands, NRW growers may leverage this advantage to improve their financial prospects.
[1] Source: Multiple strawberry market reports and analyses, retrieved March 2023.
- The strawberry season in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, has commenced earlier this year due to the sunny weather, with Minister Silke Gorißen (CDU) of Agriculture visiting a Selm farm to mark the occasion.
- The current cost of strawberries in NRW is around 8.19 Euros per kilogram, according to the Agricultural Market Information Company (AMI), slightly higher than the same week last year.
- The high prices at the beginning of the strawberry season are largely due to supply and demand, with fewer quantities available and strawberries being primarily grown in greenhouses and tunnels.
- The costs involved in strawberry farming, including labor, energy, and materials, have significantly increased over the years, representing approximately 50 to 60 percent of the strawberry price tag.
