Reichenau-Gemüse eG is one of the leading producer organizations in Germany when it comes to organic products. Germany's southernmost growing region supplied consumers in the south with 4.2 million kilograms of high-quality organic vegetables in 2018. "One third of Reichenau-Gemüse eG's total sales is generated already through organic vegetables," says the cooperative's managing director, Johannes Bliestle. This share will continue to increase in future through further planned projects.
Vegetables from the island of Reichenau - this island has been a natural source of vegetables for decades. The basis is the integrated controlled cultivation. This also includes a need-based fertilization, based on current analysis results of soil samples, the use of beneficial insects against pests or for example the use of particularly resistant seed or varieties. The fact that the Reichenau vegetables and the growers have recognized the trend for fresh regional organic vegetables and have taken further steps towards even more ecological cultivation is proven correct by the current development in organic farming. Meanwhile, 28% of the vegetables produced by Reichenau-Gemüse eG in 2018 come from organic farming. In terms of value, this accounts for as much as 36% of Reichenau-Gemüse eG's total vegetable sales.
Fruits at the top
Of the 30 organic products, organic cucumbers and organic tomatoes account for the lion's share in various forms. Then come organic herbs and organic radishes. The focus of organic farming lies in the gardener settlements on the mainland in Hegau, near the vegetable island. The production of organic herbs, however, takes place exclusively on the vegetable island.
View into a greenhouse of the producer cooperative
"Two-year conversion period"
"It takes a long time", says the managing director of Reichenau-Gemüse, Johannes Bliestle. That is because it's not possible to switch to organic farming so easily from one day to the next. "Only after a two-year conversion period, the areas are recognized and the vegetables produced may be marketed as Reichenauer organic vegetables. In addition, the requirements of organic farming associations, Bioland and Naturland are very strict and are above those on an EU level."
View of the island of Reichenau
According to the German Organic Confederation for Organic Food, or BÖLW for short, the proportion of organically farmed land in Germany is at 8.2% and rising. The German Sustainability Strategy and the Coalition Agreement set the goal of using 20% of agricultural land ecologically by 2030. "Against this background, the value of Reichenauer is one-third, an absolute top value. A result that we, and above all our gardeners, can be proud of."
For more information:
Reichenau-Gemüse eG|
GF: Johannes Bliestle
Marktstr. 1
78479 Reichenau
Tel. 07534 9200-30
Fax 07534 9200-148
info@reichenaugemuese.de
www.reichenaugemuese.de