Asparagus sales collapse: is the high price to blame?

Created: 05/09/2022 13:17

By: Joana Lück

The asparagus season was eagerly awaited, but now the spears are selling very little.

The Ukraine war and inflation are one reason.

Hamburg – The first fresh asparagus have been available for purchase at the weekly market and in the supermarkets for a few weeks.

But the green and white poles have not yet found the hoped-for sales.

The high price per kilo is one of the main reasons, but also the general decline in purchasing power.

Asparagus sales collapse: is the high price to blame?

Asparagus sales are going rather sluggishly this year.

(Iconic image) © Harald Biebel/Imago

Asparagus is healthy, delicious and embodies spring like no other vegetable.

Whether together with hollandaise sauce, boiled potatoes and ham, in a salad or simply on the grill – the vegetable from the asparagus family is more popular every year than almost any other.

Anyone who grows asparagus knows that the plant can only be harvested after the second year.

For those who are impatient, buying the poles is a good idea.

But a glance at the price table leaves many asparagus fans breathless: with a price of between ten and 13 euros per kilo, depending on the place of origin, the sticks can almost be considered a delicacy.

According to the Norddeutscher Rundfunk ("NDR"), asparagus lovers are buying more cautiously this year because the Ukraine war has caused energy and food prices to skyrocket.

This in turn is also noticeable when buying the rather expensive vegetables, according to the NDR.

Anyone who serves hollandaise sauce or butter with the sticks also knows that butter is becoming more and more expensive.

In fact, this year's asparagus prices in some regions are even below the average of recent years.

Asparagus fans shouldn't wait too long to buy, because the season ends on June 24th, St. John's Day.

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Asparagus sales collapse: How to recognize fresh asparagus

Asparagus should be processed quickly after harvest.

How to recognize fresh asparagus:

• Fresh asparagus squeaks when you have several spears in your hand.

• In addition, the ends of the asparagus should not be too dry.

  With pre-packaged bars, it's worth examining the end with a bar.

  If the ends are woody or even moldy, then you should keep your hands off the vegetables.