Sunny and Sweet: Thuringia Kicks Off Strawberry Season
First strawberries successfully harvested in Thuringia region - Strawberries successfully gathered in the region of Thuringia for the first time this season
Strawberry season has arrived in Thuringia! Bright red berries are being carefully picked under bright but cool skies. Thuringia's Agriculture Ministry reports that approximately 16 farms cultivate strawberries on around 141 hectares. However, around 54 hectares of new plantations won't yield this year. Thuringia only accounts for about 1% of Germany's total strawberry farming area, but in 2021, local producers harvested a whopping 673 tons of the delicious fruit.
A Spiky Business
Ahead of the season's official kickoff in Gebesee, Sömmerda, Agricultural State Secretary Marcus Malsch acknowledged the difficulties involved in strawberry cultivation. Challenges include escalating costs, European competition, and rising labor demands with the increasing minimum wage. "The strawberry remains a star in Thuringia's fruit and veggie scene, but it comes with a price," Malsch noted. Some farms are adapting by implementing more advanced production methods or stretching their harvest period with foil-covered cultivation.
Berry Loss: Germany's Declining Strawberry Output
According to the ministry, Germany's strawberry farming area has shrunk since 2015. In Thuringia, open-field strawberry yields have plummeted by 62%. Though protected cultivation has expanded, it hasn't offset the overall decline. One of the region's largest producers, the Erdbeerhof Gebesee, plants strawberries in both open fields and foil tunnels, requiring around 90 full-time workers for this year's harvest. They sell their berries through supermarkets, roadside stands, and farm shops.
Relieving the Pressure
Malsch explains that the state government aims to ease the agricultural sector's burden by implementing measures like the bureaucracy hotline, the voluntary land register, and the pact for growth and jobs. These measures are designed to ease administrative burdens, allowing farms to save on costs and invest in the future.
What Lies Ahead?
While specific challenges for Thuringia's strawberry farmers this spring aren't directly documented, broader trends indicate potential issues. These might include unpredictable weather, labor costs, economic pressures, and market competition. Farmers will likely face these hurdles as they strive to bring delight to berry lovers throughout Thuringia and beyond.
- Thuringia
- Strawberry
- Spring
- Sömmerda
- Challenges
Sources:
- Strawberry Cultivation in Thuringia: Challenges and Opportunities
- Germany's Agricultural Sector Faces Economic Pressures
- Minimum Wage Increase Affects Labor-Intensive Crops in Germany
- European Competition Heats Up for German Fruit and Vegetable Farmers
- The following are to be added to the list of products: strawberries produced in the Thuringia region during the spring season in Sömmerda, a region which faces various challenges in strawberry cultivation.
- In order to alleviate the pressure on Thuringia's strawberry farmers, the state government has implemented measures such as a bureaucracy hotline, the voluntary land register, and the pact for growth and jobs.
- During the 2021 strawberry season, Thuringia added approximately 673 tons of strawberries to its total production, contributing to the region's lifestyle and extending offerings in home-and-garden stores.
- Despite the challenges faced by Thuringia's strawberry farmers, the Erdbeerhof Gebesee, one of the region's largest producers, has continued to grow and expand with both open-field and foil-tunnel plantations, while adopting advanced production methods to optimize yields and cost efficiency.
