In the first week of April, Franconian vegetable farming company Ruff-Häring was able to harvest the first radishes of this season from their polytunnels. "Compared to other years, we are starting the season 1 to 1.5 weeks later, and so far, marketing at the wholesale market has been quite sluggish. From week 16 onwards, we hope to have larger quantities, and we will definitely be able to market sufficient quantities in the next five to six weeks," Stefanie Häring reports. The prices are almost at the level of the previous year.
In addition to the seasonal radish business, the Nuremberg-based family company is dedicated to the year-round production of radishes. In mid-March, the annual seasonal change from greenhouse to open-ground production took place. "This year, we were a few days ahead of the Palatinate growers, and the harvest has started off very well so far. Due to the fact that we are also able to supply throughout the entire winter, it was known that we have radishes. The mild winter accelerated greenhouse growth, with a similar yield as last year. Overall, the harvest in protected cultivation ended a bit earlier than usual, but this allowed us to start in the open field a bit earlier," Mrs. Häring continues.
In addition to rettich and radishes, the first cucumbers could also be harvested in week 15. In the newly built polytunnel, farmer's cucumbers and snake cucumbers can be produced on approximately 0.3 hectares until autumn.
Competition with Italian imports
The prices of greenhouse products have been quite good lately, while production costs have been mostly acceptable. "Compared to other greenhouse crops, radishes also do not need to be heated too much, which is why costs can be kept relatively low. Accordingly, radishes
are comparatively also relatively inexpensive, that's the other side of the coin," Mrs. Häring considers.
Right: radishes under plastic. These will be marketed in bundles (ten bundles per box) both to the regional retail trade and through the local wholesale market in Nuremberg.
"Especially at the wholesale market, Italian import goods were available in relatively large quantities throughout the winter, also offered at a slightly cheaper price than regional radishes. It seems that there are no longer, or only sporadically, Italian imports." For the open ground product, the yield is slightly below last year's level and approximately at the level of the Palatinate radishes.
Images: Ruff-Häring GbR Gemüsebau
For more information:
Stefanie Häring
Ruff-Häring GbR Gemüsebau
Loher Hauptstraße 116
90427 Nuremberg
Tel.: +49 911 345355
info@ruff-haering.de
www.ruff-haering.de