Local asparagus supply is now increasing week by week. However, price disparities between regions remain significant. In some cities, consumers have to pay high prices: in Munich, white asparagus reaches €31.80 per kilo. In Berlin and Cologne, prices are almost half that: “We charge €17.90 per kilo,” says Christian Fuchs, 46, a grower in Cologne-Rheindorf. On Berlin’s weekly markets, prices start at €18 per kilo.

Lower Saxony: reduced acreage and harvest volumes

The first asparagus has already been harvested in some fields. While demand was moderate in 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, interest surged again in 2023. This year, rising minimum wages and energy costs continue to strain farms, leading many to reduce their growing areas.

According to the regional statistics office, Lower Saxony remains Germany’s leading asparagus-producing state in 2024. However, cultivated area and yields are clearly declining. Figures for 2025 are not yet available. Last year, 21,700 tonnes were harvested from 3,900 ha (compared to 22,800 t from 4,400 ha in 2023), marking a 4.8% decrease in volume and 11.6% in area. On the other hand, average yield per hectare improved to 56.2 dt/ha (+7.9% from 2023).

Lower Saxony accounted for about 20.3% of Germany’s total asparagus-growing area in 2024 (around 20,000 ha nationwide), with 223 active farms, including 23 organic ones.

“The big boom during the Covid years is unfortunately behind us. Still, we’ve managed to maintain stable prices, similar to last year,” says Heiko Stolle, a producer in Klein-Bümmerstede (Oldenburg). He notes that persistent drought is a major worry: “We’ve already started irrigating the fields,” he adds.

Schleswig-Holstein: producers remain optimistic

In Schleswig-Holstein, the season was officially launched by Ute Volquardsen, president of the Chamber of Agriculture, along with representatives from the Asparagus Working Group and growers from across the region. Farmer Schümann, based in Hasenmoor, remains optimistic: “Asparagus doesn’t need rain for now—what it needs is warmth,” he explains. His beds are covered with plastic film and ventilated to speed up harvest. Around 450 ha of asparagus are grown by 40 farms in the region.

Hesse: a difficult start due to harsh conditions

On April 3, Hesse’s Minister-President Boris Rhein officially kicked off the season at Steinbrücker Hof in Weiterstadt. His message: “Hessian asparagus is climate protection in action and deserves support!” He also emphasized the sector’s challenges, especially the potential impact of raising the minimum wage to €15, which would affect foreign seasonal workers as well.

This increase, he warned, would seriously undermine the competitiveness of local farms, already grappling with low self-sufficiency in fruit and vegetables. It may force some growers to abandon costly crops like asparagus. The Hessian Farmers’ Association (HBV) is calling for specific wage regulations to help safeguard the region’s agricultural base.

North Rhine-Westphalia: historically low harvest

In North Rhine-Westphalia, the 2024 harvest was the lowest in years. Just 18.5 tonnes were harvested—an 11.1% drop from 2023 and the lowest since 2016, according to the state statistics office.

Cold weather last year is blamed for hampering growth and reducing spear size. This year, harvesting has already begun at several sites. The recent sunny weather is promising. By season’s end, on June 24 (St. John’s Day), around 18,000 tonnes are expected. About 70% of production is sold through short supply chains: directly at farms, markets, or roadside stands.

Thuringia: season starts at the largest farm

Harvesting is starting this week in Thuringia’s main growing region, the Unstrut-Hainich district. In Kutzleben, the state’s largest farm is cultivating 110 ha of asparagus—20 less than last year. The Herbsleben agricultural cooperative maintains its 80 ha, unchanged from 2023.

“The start is going as expected. Mid-April is a usual starting point,” says Jan Niclas Imholze from Kutzleben.

Saxony-Anhalt: slow growth due to cold

In Saxony-Anhalt, the season is starting slowly due to cold nights. “There will be asparagus for Easter,” assures Patrick Wolter, farm manager at the Hohenseeden agricultural cooperative. However, depending on the weather, meeting full demand may be challenging.

In 2023, the region harvested about 1,820 tonnes from 360.7 ha, according to the regional stats office in Halle. This marked a rise from 1,400 t in 2022 and 1,500 t in 2021.

Rhineland-Palatinate: sufficient supply for Easter

Thanks to good sunshine, Rhineland-Palatinate confirms there will be enough asparagus for Easter. “Harvest has started in all growing areas,” says Andreas Köhr from the regional farmers’ and winegrowers’ association.

Brandenburg: early but slow start to the season

According to a spokesperson from Syringshof farm interviewed by BERLIN LIVE, the season began earlier than usual but is progressing slowly—a good sign for quality harvests.

Prices should remain stable compared to 2023, ranging from €9/kg for broken or soup-grade asparagus to €16/kg for top-quality spears.

Austria: slightly lower harvest expected

After a historically early start in 2023, Austrian consumers will have to wait a bit longer this year due to cooler temperatures. According to Josef Moosbrugger, president of the Chamber of Agriculture, the first local asparagus should hit supermarket shelves by mid-April.

Production is centered in the Marchfeld region (Lower Austria). In 2023, 762 ha were planted: 498 for white asparagus and 264 for green/purple. Total output reached 2,723 tonnes. A slight decline is expected this year.

Austria’s annual consumption is estimated at 5,000 tonnes. In 2023, around 3,000 tonnes were imported, mainly from Spain (35%), Italy (31%), Hungary (14%), Germany (8%) and Peru (5%).

Switzerland: cold snap threatens harvest

In Switzerland, night frost is threatening asparagus crops. Farmers are applying protective measures. Cold weather is slowing growth, although the first white Swiss asparagus is already available. Green asparagus, however, is still awaited.

Rain has been a key factor this year in the start of the white asparagus season along the banks of the Ebro River, which began a bit later than in previous years. “In our case, we started the season with the first harvests about twenty days ago, but we’re a lucky company — 95% of the area under the PGI ‘Asparagus of Navarre’ is only just beginning to be harvested today due to the rainfall.”

“We were fortunate enough to be able to ridge the beds and prepare the asparagus before the rain prevented us from working the soil, and these 20 days of early harvesting have been very beneficial for the marketing of our asparagus.”

“This year, production should be similar to last year, with fairly good calibres that will continue to improve as the season progresses. This is very positive, since size is one of the most important and valued factors for both customers and chefs when it comes to fresh asparagus.”

“In terms of demand, we’re seeing another relatively good year. Easter is usually a bit tricky for fresh products because many shops are closed during the holidays, and with the current economic situation, it’s difficult to sell asparagus at the price we would like. Nevertheless, we’re quite satisfied with our current position and, once again this year, we are able to defend the price of our high-quality product against the pricing strategies of large supermarket chains.”

Espárrago de Novillas sells its production in Spain “to fruit and vegetable wholesalers and high-end restaurants, including several Michelin-starred ones. However, each year at the beginning of the season, we receive many calls from people interested in importing our asparagus, as demand in Europe is more than promising.”

It’s worth noting that Germany is the largest importer of asparagus in the EU-27, with a high level of consumption. “We are a family-run business, and so far we’ve focused on the Spanish market, but we’re growing year by year and we’re not ruling out exporting in the future.”

“We grow Grolim and Herkolim varieties, which allow us to harvest very large, high-quality asparagus throughout the season. We also market under two labels, Reyno Gourmet and Aragon Alimentos Nobles, both of which guarantee the superior quality of our products and give us strong market prospects. Moreover, although we started earlier than other growers this year, the season overall began later, which could allow us to extend our production into June.”

For more information:
Espárragos de Novillas
C/ Francisco de Goya 24, CP50530 Novillas (Zaragoza)
Tel.: +34 676 257 389
esparragodenovillas@gmail.com
https://esparragodenovillas.com/ 

Could Michigan’s asparagus growing benefit from tariffs?

Michigan is expecting an upcoming asparagus crop that will likely be similar to its historical crops. What is expected to vary is the start time this year. “We’ve had a typical winter and it’s still cold, so production looks to start in May,” says Trish Taylor, marketing manager for Riveridge Produce Marketing, Inc.

^{Asparagus is the first commercial crop in Michigan annually.}

The asparagus growing in Michigan–the top asparagus-growing state in the U.S.– benefits largely from its proximity to Lake Michigan. “Most of the asparagus is grown in the Western part of the state, and asparagus likes sandy, loam soil,” she says, adding that there is a bit grown in southern Michigan as well. In fact, production starts in southwest Michigan. “With the lake, the climate lends to natural irrigation/rain. That’s the difference between us and imported asparagus. Other countries grow in more of a desert-like condition where they provide irrigation and in some areas grow a crop twice a year. Here, asparagus is the first commercial crop of the season.”

Typically, the crop runs approximately six to eight weeks out of the state.

How Michigan harvests
While Michigan only produces asparagus in the spring (the state still hand-snaps its product at its natural breaking point rather than having farm workers walk fields and cut down asparagus), imports stretch the season to year-round supply now. In turn, Taylor says that pressures pricing on Michigan’s season. “That means when we’re able to ship, the price isn’t necessarily where we’d like it to be,” says Taylor.

^{Michigan still hand-snaps its product at its natural breaking point rather than having farm workers walk fields and cut down asparagus.}

So, does that mean Michigan will benefit from the recently announced tariffs from the U.S. administration on asparagus-growing countries such as Peru?

“It will be a wait and see. If asparagus outside of the domestic season is more than they’re used to paying, will they back away from buying it all year long?” asks Taylor, adding that Michigan growers encourage domestic buyers to freeze and can Michigan’s spring production. “It’s a big deal to us because there are not that many growers that just grow asparagus in the state. Typically, growers grow asparagus and are fruit tree growers. Their income from the asparagus crop sets them up for the rest of the year. That’s why pricing and movement is so important to our growers because that money gets invested right back into more produce output from Michigan.”

For more information:
Trish Taylor
Riveridge Produce
Tel: +1 (616) 887-6873
trish.taylor@riveridge.com