Local growers expect a good asparagus season this year. However, the harvest will be somewhat delayed due to the cool temperatures of recent times. The weather conditions do not lead to a downgrading of the quantities. Given the larger area, one can even count on slightly increasing yields.
The time at which the asparagus can be harvested mainly depends on the weather. The plants need warm soil temperatures, which they have not found lately. “The harvest is starting very hesitantly this year,” Josef Moosbrugger, chairman of the Agricultural Chamber, reported in an interview with APA.
Marchfeld as the asparagus heart of Austria
In this country, asparagus is mainly grown in the Marchfeld in Lower Austria. However, the total area of 757 hectares now extends to Vorarlberg. In Austria, 127 companies produce green or purple asparagus, while 82 companies will soon be harvesting white asparagus – the Agricultural Chamber expects a stronger phase from May.
The search for harvest helpers appears to be less difficult than in previous years. Last year in particular, many workers were lost due to the war in Ukraine. However, the regular season model that has been used as a result of this creates a certain degree of certainty, explains Moosbrugger. There are sufficient workers available for the start of the asparagus harvest.
Cheap asparagus from abroad is cause for concern
On the other hand, farmers are concerned about the market situation due to the later harvest. This means that some supermarket chains would serve consumers’ desire for asparagus with products from abroad, which are usually sold cheaply, the LKÖ chairman added. “There is already extreme price pressure on our growers.” The leader in the production of polar vegetables in Europe is Germany, which leaves behind Spain (13,500 hectares) and Italy (7,500 hectares) with no less than 22,000 hectares of cultivation area.
Periods of drought, which have plagued agriculture in general for a long time, are less of a problem for asparagus. “Wherever it is grown, it can also be irrigated,” said Moosbrugger. One effect is that in the future cultivation will partly shift to regions where the conditions for this do not yet prevail. However, it may take some time to get there: the cultures need a development or lead time of three years before they bear fruit.
Source: Krone
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