Despite winter to buy asparagus from Germany

Despite the cold, the first asparagus is sold

03/14/2013

Despite the icy temperatures and the onset of winter in Germany, there is already the first asparagus from German cultivation on the markets to buy. This is made possible by the heatable cultivation areas. Because the method is very costly, the asparagus costs more accordingly.

Asparagus is still very expensive
Despite the cold temperatures, consumers can already buy German asparagus. In some shops, the sprouts are already available. Some wholesalers have already started selling German asparagus from heated arable land. Since the total amount of harvest is still very low, the asparagus costs much more. Currently customers have to pay between 14 and 20 euros for each kilogram, reports Karl-Martin Vielhauer of the fruit and vegetable sales cooperative (OGA) in Bruchsal, Baden. Asparagus is considered a real spring vegetables. It is very healthy, contains many vitamins, fiber, iron and immunologically active ingredients and has very little calories.

Even in Mannheim, a wholesaler is already selling asparagus from German land. The manager of the „Frey wholesale“, Ralf Frey reports that the kilo price here would be between 9 and 19 euros. According to the fruit and vegetable sales cooperative, there are some farms in Bavaria and the Rhineland that harvest asparagus with the help of heatable acreage. But many environmentalists criticize this type of asparagus cultivation, as it consumes a lot of energy.

Criticism of heatable acreage
Sebastian Dreyer from Greenpeace said: The onset of winter is not necessarily a problem with asparagus cultivation. Before consumers buy asparagus now, one can also wait until the beginning of harvest in early April. Frey said, however, when the asparagus grow and grow in the near future is crucial „we need sun for that“. (Sb)

Picture credits: Peter von Bechen, Pixelio.de.