Overview

• Farmers reported satisfactory yields and strong consumer demand across Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Rheinland-Pfalz and Saxony during the season that concluded on June 24th.
• Labor costs make up roughly 60 percent of production expenses and growers are bracing for a potential increase of the minimum wage to €15 per hour in 2026.
• Producers rely heavily on seasonal workers from Eastern Europe and have proposed exemptions or flexible arrangements if the statutory rate rises.
• Many operations struggle with supermarket pricing that undercuts profitability, while direct-to-consumer sales regularly fetch between €10 and €12 per kilogram.
• Some farms, including Kremmener Spargelhof, are testing robotic harvesters as a long-term strategy to manage rising wages and sustain competitiveness.