Safe harvest in MV: Good quality, but high costs press companies

Safe harvest in MV: Good quality, but high costs press companies

The asparagus season 2025 in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is coming to an end. On June 24, the gates for the harvest of the delicious tubers, which the region has been shaped for years, are closed. The family business Sabö in Nantrow and Tieplitz, with a considerable acreage of 60 hectares, can report on a successful harvest. However, operator Sebastian Böckmann also comments concerned about the economic challenges that many farmers plague.

In recent years, however, the area area for asparagus in the region has drastically decreased. Instead of the 182 hectares of six years ago, it is only almost 140 hectares, which represents a remarkable re -development. The reasons for this are diverse, but mainly due to increasing production and personnel costs as well as the dependence on harvesters from abroad. "We hardly have any workers in this country," explains Böckmann, who is dependent on the support from Eastern Europe.

economic challenges

The prices for asparagus are currently up to 15 euros per kilo, almost at the level of the previous year. But even if the quality of the harvest is right, many companies suffer from financial burdens. High means of production and energy costs are increasing to the farmers. As the Ministry of Agriculture in Schwerin confirms, the companies that supply food retail are particularly affected by this situation. Retail often pays far less than is required for economic production.

Minister of Agriculture Dr. Till Backhaus is optimistic and emphasizes the health benefits of asparagus. Despite the economic challenges, he encourages consumers to buy regional asparagus to support the companies. This is also necessary because the joy of consumption in the population is reserved. In 2024 the households bought only 1.23 kg of German bleach parish, which represents a decrease of 7 percent compared to the previous year.

workers' problem and minimum wage

Another problem is the upcoming minimum wage of 15 euros per hour from 2026, which could further tighten the situation for asparagus farmers. The industry is already demanding exceptions to the minimum wage, especially for labor -intensive vegetable growing. Some companies in the region pulled the ripcord and greatly reduced the asparagus cultivation or completely abandoned. There are currently 14 active asparagus companies in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, four years ago there were 19.

The harvest itself remains manually minted, since machines can damage the sensitive asparagus rods. Farmers like Böckmann therefore call for political measures to improve production conditions in order to stop the decline in the acreage.

On Monday, Dr. Backhaus together with District Administrator Sebastian Constien the first asparagus at the Sabö-Hof in Gülzow exams, which despite all the challenges throws a positive shine on the season. With an average yield of 5.0 tons per hectare, the harvest in 2024 rose slightly compared to the previous year, but the producers are under high pressure.

In recent years, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has established itself as one of the smaller asparagus growing regions in Germany. While more than 4000 hectares are pricked in the neighboring federal state of Lower Saxony, asparagus cultivation in MV remains comparatively small. Nevertheless, the harvest is estimated here, and the Sabö-Hof remains an important player in regional agriculture.

For more information, you can also read the reports from NDR, Müritzportal and Nordkurier: Müritzportal , Nordkurier .