Saxony's asparagus farmers satisfied with this year's harvest

Ahead of the traditional end of the asparagus harvest on St. John's Day on June 24, Saxony's asparagus farmers are satisfied with this year's season. "The season started early," said Jürgen Schulze, Chairman of the Association of East German Asparagus and Berry Growers. The asparagus was of very good quality and demand from customers was also good. Nieschütz asparagus grower René Heidig was also satisfied: "We started three weeks earlier than normal, which is good for the yield." Although the longer harvest period was challenging for the plants, nature had sorted it out.

The low temperatures at the end of April, which caused major damage to Saxony's fruit growers and winegrowers, did not result in any major losses of asparagus. "We harvested asparagus that had been frozen for three days and threw it away," said Heidig. This is not nice, but such frost damage can occur until the beginning of May. Only the spears were affected, not the plants themselves. These are well protected from frost in the soil, explained Schulze.

However, the minimum wage, which was raised at the beginning of the year, presented Heidig with a challenge, as it drove up the costs of the labor-intensive asparagus harvest. "That's a factor that weighs on us," says the farmer. Prices had to be adjusted accordingly this season.

In Saxony, 24 farms grow asparagus. According to the State Statistical Office, asparagus was grown on an area of around 129 hectares last year and around 420 tons were harvested. The Free State is one of the smallest asparagus-growing regions in Germany.