Mixed results for asparagus season

The weather has not been favourable for the German asparagus season. Germany, the leading European producer of asparagus, traditionally ends its asparagus season around June 24.

This year the results are mixed and production is sharply lower and prices higher than last year. The cold spring has significantly reduced production. Prices were up 18% from 2011.

Due to high prices, German consumers have reduced their purchases of asparagus by about a quarter. For most producers the price increase did not offset the decline in production. The average decline in sales could reach 15%. Germany produced 103,000 tons of asparagus in 2011.

source : az online de, t online