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last mo.

Germany’s Asparagus Supply Shrinks as Early Harvest Kicks Off and Costs Climb

Official figures confirm a decade-long decline alongside growing import reliance.

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Die Spargelzeit im Norden beginnt.
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In Deutschland wird immer weniger Spargel angebaut und geerntet. Im vergangenen Jahr ging die Ernte im Vorjahresvergleich zum 3,9 Prozent auf 103.900 Tonnen Spargel zurück, wie das Statistische Bundesamt in Wiesbaden am Montag mitteilte.

Overview

  • Destatis reports 103,900 tonnes harvested in 2025, down 9% versus 2015, with cultivation area -13% and the number of farms -29% over the decade.
  • Imports reached 24,500 tonnes in 2025—about a quarter of domestic output—mostly arriving March to June, led by Spain, Mexico and Greece.
  • Southern growers have begun picking thanks to sunny weather and foil systems that warm the soil, with broader availability expected from April.
  • Producers warn of upward price pressure from higher energy bills and the €13.90 statutory minimum wage, rising to €14.60 in 2027, as labor forms a large share of costs.
  • Agricultural groups push a 20% minimum-wage discount for seasonal workers, a move IG BAU rejects as unlawful, while early retail prices vary widely from roughly €15 to €24 per kilo.