Overview

• German strawberry farms report increasing losses due to self-pickers consuming berries on-site without payment.
• New measures include mandatory minimum-pick quantities and a 'Naschpauschale' fee for those picking below set thresholds.
• Surveillance cameras have been introduced on some farms to deter unauthorized harvesting and eating.
• Farmers emphasize that unpaid consumption jeopardizes their annual income, which depends entirely on a single harvest season.
• While most customers comply with the new rules, some criticize the minimum-pick requirements as time-consuming or excessive.