Asparagus harvest in Brandenburg: satisfaction despite wage worries!

Asparagus harvest in Brandenburg: satisfaction despite wage worries!

The asparagus season is coming to an end, but the mood among producers is mostly positive. According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, plant managers in Brandenburg are reporting good business, despite ongoing concerns about rising wage costs. The chairman of the Beelitz Asparagus Association, Jürgen Jakobs, is optimistic and emphasizes that prices for fresh asparagus are between 10 and 12 euros per kilo, especially during the demand at Easter and Pentecost. Malte Voigts, manager of an asparagus farm in Kremmen, emphasizes that there is a sufficient number of harvest workers, which enables the company to harvest around 1,000 tons of asparagus.

However, there are also significant challenges. The discussion about a possible increase in the minimum wage to 15 euros in 2026 casts a shadow over the future of the asparagus harvest. Jakobs expresses concerns because 60 percent of the costs for companies are personnel costs. The current statutory minimum wage has been 12.82 euros per hour since January 2025, but the development remains critical. According to a report by the Fair Farm Work Initiative, the minimum wage requirements in the agricultural sector are still not met, and many seasonal workers work under precarious conditions.

The reality of seasonal workers

Working conditions for seasonal workers have only improved slightly in recent years. Many employees report inadequate accommodation and inadequate social security. For example, three seasonal workers from Eastern Europe paid over 1,100 euros for small accommodation. These problems are exacerbated by the high number of foreign workers, especially from Romania. In 2023, around 80 percent of the seasonal workers encountered during inspections by the Fair Agricultural Work Initiative were of Romanian origin.

A total of around 876,000 workers are currently employed in agriculture in Germany, with seasonal workers playing an important role. These are often employed on a short-term basis, which helps companies save on social security contributions. For many farmers, the use of seasonal workers is essential because the harvest is done by hand and the demand for local food is constant. A positive development can be seen in the increasing number of employees in the industry subject to social insurance contributions. In mid-2022, around 124,000 foreign employees were active in agriculture.

A look at the future

With the threat of an increase in wage costs and changing working conditions, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop. The harvest of outdoor blueberries begins at the end of June at the Kremmener Hof, where the cultivated area is growing compared to the previous year. This could represent an additional ray of hope for companies. At the same time, there is discussion in the room about giving robots a role in asparagus harvesting in order to minimize the need for human labor.

The producers hope that, despite all the challenges, the asparagus harvest will remain lucrative and will do everything they can until St. John's Day, June 24th, to bring the season to a successful conclusion. Given the continued high demand, businesses can hope for many fresh asparagus dishes in their home kitchens.

For detailed information on labor costs and the challenges in agriculture, take a look at the reports from South Germans, Daily Mirror, and BMEL.