Heavy Rain and Storms Impact Southern German Vegetable Markets
The recent flooding disaster in southern Germany has significantly impacted the region’s agricultural markets, particularly for asparagus, according to Hermann Felber, a vegetable wholesaler at the Munich wholesale market. The adverse weather conditions have forced an early end to the asparagus season in the renowned Schrobenhausen area, driving up prices and affecting product quality.
“Due to the storm and heavy rains, the regional asparagus season will end earlier this year. Some of my suppliers in the Schrobenhausen area have already withdrawn,” Felber said. As a result, asparagus prices surged during week 23. “It must also be said that the quality of the available goods from Schrobenhausen was not as we are accustomed to lately. Fortunately, we can now rely on flawless goods from Lower Bavaria and the Palatinate.”
Adapting to Changing Weather Conditions
Beyond asparagus, Felber’s business also deals in open-field vegetables and salads from southern German regions. “We source our salads from various cultivation areas such as the Allgäu, Lower Bavaria, and the Regensburg area,” Felber noted. The transition from imported salads from Italy and France to regional products this year was smooth, beginning at the end of March.
Challenges in Mobile Trade
The Felber company has operated from the Munich wholesale market for 40 years, with Hermann Felber running the business since 2001 as the second-generation manager. His clientele mainly comprises weekly market traders and specialty stores in the surrounding area.
“During the pandemic, both of these sectors boomed. Unfortunately, there is now a greater focus on saving money, which means less emphasis is placed on eating. This, in turn, leads to more shopping at discounters rather than at specialty stores. Additionally, many market traders are giving up their business due to a lack of succession,” Felber observed.
Conclusion
The unpredictable weather and subsequent flooding have had a significant impact on the agricultural markets in southern Germany, particularly for asparagus from Schrobenhausen. Despite these challenges, wholesalers like Hermann Felber continue to adapt by sourcing quality produce from other regions and managing the effects of broader market trends on their business operations.
