Overview
- Most April strawberries in German supermarkets are imports from Huelva in southern Spain.
- Large farms in Huelva use about 300 liters of water per kilo, and WWF reports hundreds of illegal wells that lower groundwater near the Doñana wetland.
- Transport from Spain adds to the climate footprint, with one 500 gram tray estimated at about 440 grams of CO2.
- ÖKO-TEST and related reporting found pesticide residues on early imports, including Bupirimat and Spinosad, with detections even on some organic packs.
- German growers plan first domestic harvests from late April into early May in protected tunnels, with Karls holding 250 grams at €3.30 and Enno Glantz starting 400 grams at about €5.50 before prices ease in peak season.