Overview
- The season began in mid‑May and retailers reported steep prices at launch, with examples up to €13 per kilo and €6–€6.50 for a 500‑gram punnet.
- Farmers and industry groups say labour makes up roughly 60% of production costs and that higher minimum wages and expensive glass and hoop‑house production have pushed retail prices up.
- Producers expect a larger domestic supply from mid‑May that may nudge prices down modestly but they do not anticipate a large price collapse.
- Many farms are promoting self‑picking as a lower‑cost option because it shifts harvesting labour onto consumers and can cut growers' personnel bills.
- Only about 39% of German strawberry demand is met by local production and falling domestic planting since 2023 means import reliance and long‑term price pressure may persist.