Strawberry season starts: Excellent harvest expected this year

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Domestic strawberry producers are expecting a good, high-yield harvest this year. In two weeks, the strawberry harvest will already start in the open field.

Harvest fields in and around Vienna at a glance
The strawberry in two weeks in two weeks harvest in the open field will start in two weeks. This means that regional strawberries will soon be available freshly harvested on the shelves. Due to the weather conditions, this year’s harvest promises to be particularly productive.

May to July: High season for strawberries from Austria
Domestic strawberries from the greenhouse are available in small quantities throughout the year. You can finally get the first fresh strawberries harvested in the open field in about two weeks.

Depending on the region, the harvest is expected to begin between the end of May and mid-June. The red fruits are very popular with consumers during the short strawberry season, which lasts from May to July. Overall, strawberries are among the top 5 fruits in Austria: per capita consumption is 3.5 kilograms per year.

Problems with frost, but good strawberry season expected
Rainfall in recent weeks ensured good water availability, and the cool weather promoted a good plant supply, which has provided friendly fruit sizes with good flavour.

In some regions, however, frost-damaged fleece-early stands in particular. The subsequent and prolonged cold spell significantly delayed the progress of vegetation and pushed back the start of the season in some locations. Nevertheless, strawberry producers are expecting a good, high-yielding harvest this year.

Largest areas under strawberries in Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Styria
The most significant areas under strawberries are in Lower Austria (513 hectares of strawberries under cultivation), Upper Austria (320 hectares) and Styria (180 hectares). Austria-wide, the area under cultivation in 2022 was 1,221 hectares, producing 16,930 tons of strawberries.

Austrian strawberry production is subject to strict quality standards and certifications with the AMA seal of approval. This certification guarantees the high quality, sustainability and traceability of the products. There are currently 70 strawberry producers with the AMA seal of approval.