Strawberry Picking Reaches Its Peak - Strawberry picking at its zenith
Strawberry Production Surges in Bavaria Despite Cool May weather
The strawberry harvest is in full swing across Bavaria, with many farms picking the popular fruit despite the cool temperatures in May. Benedikt Ganger, a member of the Bavarian Fruit Growers' Association, said the harvest has significantly picked up in recent weeks.
To ease the workload for farmers, more and more strawberry farms are adopting raised beds or soil-less cultivation, which involves growing plants on metal racks under greenhouse tunnels. This method elevates the plants to about 1.30 meters in height, and according to Ganger, it offers several advantages for workers and farmers.
In an interview, Ganger, who owns a strawberry farm in Niedermotzing (district of Straubing-Bogen) on approximately 45.5 hectares of land, highlighted the increased comfort for workers as they no longer have to kneel while harvesting. Furthermore, the plants grown on racks are less susceptible to diseases and slug infestations.
One challenge associated with soil-less cultivation is drought. Rainfall is essential, and if the weather becomes dry, irrigation is necessary. Ganger has installed two basins with a combined capacity of 42,000 cubic liters to collect rainwater throughout the year, providing a buffer during dry periods.
Despite the unusually cool May, strawberry plants are resilient, and low temperatures are manageable, Ganger explained. Freezing temperatures, on the other hand, can cause extensive damage to uncovered strawberry plants, and unfortunately, some farmers in Bavaria have experienced losses with up to 30 to 50 percent frost damage.
Ideal temperatures for strawberries are around 8 degrees Celsius at night, as they grow more slowly under such conditions but produce larger, more aromatic fruit.
Typically, the main strawberry season commences in early May and continues until August. However, with the adoption of protected cultivation methods, such as greenhouses and greenhouse tunnels, German strawberries can now be harvested from mid-April until November, according to Ganger.
Labor has emerged as a significant challenge for strawberry farmers, as finding workers for the harvest is becoming increasingly difficult, and rising costs related to the minimum wage and energy ultimately impact prices. To combat these issues, farmers are investing in protected cultivation and elevated beds to create long-term solutions for strawberry production in Germany.
Community policy ought to consider implementing measures to address the growing issue of labor shortages in the agricultural sector, particularly for strawberry farms, given the significant impact rising costs related to the minimum wage and energy have on prices. Additionally, under the umbrella of employment policy, promoting initiatives that support the adoption of raised beds or soil-less cultivation, which offer advantages such as increased comfort for workers and improved disease resistance, could be beneficial for both farmers and the wider community, bolstering food-and-drink production while also improving home-and-garden practices.
