The 2012 fruit and vegetable season bounced back after the EHEC crisis of 2011 and was able to return to normal levels throughout Europe. Significant frost damage however, in particular in the hard fruit sector, resulted in the smallest European fruit harvest in recent years. Nevertheless, the stable economic development in Germany made for memorable consumer expenditures, which also benefited the fruit and vegetable sector.
Asparagus were the most important contributors to overall sales. While their sales volumes remained almost unchanged (from 4,645 tons in 2011 to 4,620 tons in 2012), turnover increased to 18.7 million Euro (17.5 million Euro in 2011). 2011 results for strawberries and berries were also exceeded. While frost damage and extreme weather conditions led to harvest failure and quality issues with strawberries, the yield of many other berries increased. A total 4,165 tons of strawberries and berries were sold in 2012 (3,825 tons in 2011) yielding a turnover of twelve million Euro (10.6 million Euro in 2011).
