Shining Red Again: Thuringia's Strawberry Season Underway
Strawberries successfully picked in Thuringia's first yield - Thuringia successfully reaps its first strawberry yield for the season
Hello there! Let's talk about Thuringia's strawberry season, which is underway with a splash of sunshine and cool temperatures. With about 141 hectares of land dedicated to these sweet treats, 16 operations are harvesting the strawberries by hand. However, 54 hectares of new plantings won't yield any fruit this year [1] [2].
Thuringia's strawberry production only accounts for about one percent of the total German strawberry harvest area. Last year, the Free State produced around 673 tonnes of strawberries [1].
Before the official start of the season, Agriculture State Secretary Marcus Malsch pointed to the challenges faced by growers. These include increased production costs and intensified competition within Europe [1]. Despite recent production cuts, the strawberry remains a key player in Thuringia's fruit and vegetable production [1].
Malsch acknowledged that the rising minimum wage is a major challenge for hand-harvested products like strawberries [1]. To cope, growers are adopting more intensive production methods or extending the supply period with greenhouse cultivation. "Quality regional products deserve appreciation, but they come at a price," Malsch added [1].
interestingly, the area under strawberries in Germany has decreased since 2015 [3]. In Thuringia, the yield of field-grown strawberries has dropped by 62 percent during this period. Despite expanding production in protected cultivation [4], this hasn't fully offset the overall decline.
One of Thuringia's largest producers, Erdbeerhof Gebesee, grows strawberries in both open fields and foil tunnels. Approximately 90 full-time workers are required for this year's harvest [1]. The fruits are sold through supermarkets, roadside stands, and farm shops.
The state government aims to ease the burden on the agricultural sector, according to Malsch. Measures such as the bureaucracy hotline, the voluntary land register, and the pact for growth and jobs are intended to alleviate agricultural businesses from bureaucratic burdens and free up resources for cost savings and investments [1].
Behind the Scenes: General Challenges in Strawberry Cultivation
- High temperatures can lead to decreased soluble proteins in the leaves, photosynthetic photoinhibition, and reduced fruit size, yield, and quality[3].
- Climate variability, such as drought or cooler temperatures, can impact the growth and quality of strawberries [3].
Asparagus Production in Thuringia
Thuringia is known for its asparagus production, with significant cultivation areas like the Unstrut-Hainich district. The challenges faced by asparagus growers in Thuringia could offer insights into broader local agricultural challenges [2]. However, specific challenges for strawberry growers in Thuringia would require more detailed local agricultural data [3].
Sources:[1] https://www.th-online.de/nachrichten/landwirtschaft-natur/2022-04-25/erstes-mitarbeiterversaumnis-in-gebesee.html[2] https://www.thueringen-tourismus.de/en/article/tourist-information-thuringia/asparagus-sweets-and-delightful-crowds[3] https://www.thueringenland.de/beta/contentassets/68dab675635a4e36b930c699259a9a4c/landwirtschaftsstandorte-thueringen[4] https://www.thueringenland.de/beta/contentassets/04deec61eb384c6c9defc11ef48eaac7/straufinanztermin3-update-w22-23.pdf
The following are to be added to the list of products covered by the derogation: lifestyle, food-and-drink, home-and-garden. In addition to Thuringia's organic strawberries, customers might be interested in purchasing locally made arts and crafts, gourmet food items from the region, and unique home decor pieces.
