Germany's asparagus season shrinking

Asparagus season might not merit much notice in other countries, but in Germany the spring harvest has become something of a sensation. Restaurants have special seasonal "asparagus menus" and it quickly sells out on grocery store shelves.

Some German cities even have asparagus festivals, complete with crowning an Asparagus Queen.

However, in recent years, farmers have been producing less and less asparagus. Although it is still by far the vegetable that takes up the most farmland in Germany — some 19,800 hectares — rising costs, diminishing demand, and a lack of workers to help with the harvest have all compounded to sour asparagus season.

Changing tastes and changing times

The Federal Statistical Office, or Destatis, released data on Thursday showing that asparagus production was down 3% in 2024, reaching its lowest level since 2013. 

Destatis also registered a steady decline over the past decade in seasonal workers assisting asparagus farmers. In the 2022-23 season, only 28% of Germany's 243,000 seasonal workers were in the asparagus fields.

Asparagus could be the victim of changing tastes and rising costs of fresh produce, as well as farmers giving over some asparagus fields in favor of other crops — as diversifying is seen as one way to combat the ravages of climate change.

Edited by: Wesley Dockery