Overview
- Growers in Saxony-Anhalt expect a solid strawberry crop, with open-field picking now slated for next week after a short weather delay.
- Prices for domestic strawberries are forecast to rise about 10% to 15% year over year due to a higher minimum wage and broader production costs.
- Labor makes up about 60% of strawberry production costs, which helps explain early shelf prices near €6 per pound.
- Apple farmers face a price crunch after Europe’s large 2025 harvest, with March data showing fruit producer prices down 31.2% year over year and table apples down about 33%.
- More shoppers are choosing cheaper imported berries and tropical fruit like mango and kiwi, which is squeezing demand for higher-priced local produce.