Due to the increased energy costs, many Viennese garden centers are no longer able to produce affordable vegetables. For consumers, this means less local greenery in the supermarkets.
The mayor of Vienna is rightly proud of the city’s own agriculture. But this is now under threat again. The reason for this is the high energy prices.
Many Viennese greenhouses, which normally produce vegetables in the winter, have to stop working at the end of October. Few can afford to continue their activities.
Junggärtner switched to biomass in time
Among his colleagues, Markus Pannagl, a young gardener from Simmering, is the exception: “We can almost afford it because we switched to biomass instead of gas before the price went up.”
Most have to shift their vegetable crops on time. Gherkin farmer Karl Kasehs also has to be creative now. “We don’t know yet how we will do in the winter. The seedlings should be planted in the ground by the end of January at the latest. I am now thinking about how I can better insulate the greenhouse,” says the 33-year-old.
While in Vienna 75,000 tons of vegetables would otherwise be harvested annually, the Vienna Chamber of Agriculture expects a loss of 10,000 tons this year. This will be particularly noticeable in the supermarket, where more foreign goods will then be offered.
“In recent years, consumers have become accustomed to always having everything at hand. It’s time to go seasonal shopping again. In winter, tomatoes are only available in greenhouses or in Spain,” said Franz Windisch, president of the Vienna Chamber of Agriculture.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
