Asparagus is one of the most popular vegetables in Germany and is often served at Easter.
But at Aldi, the packs are shrinking.
Kassel – The asparagus season started at Easter.
In supermarkets, discounters and at weekly markets, the stick vegetables can already be bought in different varieties.
The typical spring food comes in green, white and purple.
In Lower Saxony, the largest German asparagus-growing state, the first asparagus farmers started harvesting a few days ago.
"There won't be asparagus everywhere in every farm shop for Easter, but it's starting," said Fred Eickhorst from the Association of Asparagus and Strawberry Growers to the
German Press Agency (dpa)
.
Around 26,100 tons of the vegetable were harvested here last year.
Buy asparagus: At Aldi Süd, there are small quantities of the German spear
Aldi Süd also has asparagus in 500 gram bundles, including from Greece and Peru, just in time for Easter, as the discounter's weekly changing brochure reveals.
However, German asparagus is apparently only offered in 400-gram packs, an Aldi customer reported on Facebook.
Inexpensive and regional in April - vegetables and fruit that are now in season
Inexpensive and regional in April - vegetables and fruit that are now in season
“There are German asparagus again at Aldi.
And following the example of Rama, only 400 g per pack instead of 500 g.
Thank you,” writes the customer.
The discounter responded promptly.
The demand for German asparagus is lower than in previous years, commented Aldi Süd.
That is why farmers have “reduced their volumes”.
Asparagus at Aldi: Discounter wants to “set an example” and support farmers
Now Aldi wants to "set an example" and support German asparagus farmers: "As the first major retailer, we will only offer local white or purple asparagus during the German asparagus season," reports the discounter.
Eickhorst also confirmed the subdued demand for asparagus.
The reason: the price increases in view of the inflation would have unsettled customers - also when buying asparagus.
"Asparagus did indeed become cheaper last year - but consumers still remembered that asparagus became more expensive," explained Eickhorst.
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German asparagus is to be offered in smaller quantities at Aldi in the future.
(archive image)
© Imago
In 2022, supermarkets and discounters will therefore rely on cheap imports from abroad.
Farmers fear that asparagus production in Germany could even disappear completely.
"If dumped goods from abroad are on the shelves again, it will be difficult," warned the President of the German Farmers' Association, Joachim Rukwied.
Buying asparagus in 2023: Prices fell last year
Due to the low temperatures and the lack of sunshine, it was not possible to sell the quantities that were already possible at this time last year, explained Claudio Gläßer from the Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft (AMI) in Bonn.
That is why there is no regional asparagus for Easter in the Hessian Schwalm-Eder district.
The harvest was delayed due to weather conditions.
According to Eickhorst, the average price for the entire season last year was 8.58 euros per kilo.
In 2021, German asparagus still cost an average of 8.90 euros.
However, it is not yet possible to say how expensive asparagus will be this season.
For Eickhorst, however, one thing is certain: "Asparagus will not be more expensive this year, we will start with the same price as last year." The industry has agreed on that.
(kas/dpa)
List of rubrics: © Imago