This year's bean harvest is now gradually coming to an end. Fresh green beans from local cultivation will be available for another month or so, according to Michael Schmidt, a producer in Lampertheim in southern Hesse. He looks back on a mixed campaign overall: "At the beginning of the harvest at the end of June, we recorded good yields, but during the heatwave in July, we had to accept certain losses in quantity and quality. However, all in all, this was still within acceptable limits, so we were able to achieve good yields overall."
The majority of the green beans produced in southern Hesse find their way onto the shelves of German food retailers via Pfalzmarkt eG.
The 2025 sales year, on the other hand, will be remembered as rather weak. "Initially, both sales and prices were good, but as the season progressed, prices unfortunately continued to fall. Overall, we are up to 20 percent below last year's level," says Schmidt, who also points to the continuing high production costs. Further price reductions are not expected until the end of the season.
Michael Schmidt during FreshPlaza.de's visit to the company in the summer of 2024. The producer grows a total of around six main varieties.
Cultivation capacities are being adjusted to declining sales
The majority of the green beans produced in southern Hesse find their way onto the shelves of German food retailers via Pfalzmarkt eG. In addition, a small portion is marketed independently, for example, to wholesale markets. In general, beans with a diameter of 8–10 mm are preferred. Schmidt: "We continue to focus on exports to neighboring European countries, primarily France and Italy. However, the latter country had ample supplies of domestic beans this year. Demand for our beans from the industry was also very low due to the overall abundant availability, so there was no alternative sales channel this year."
The weak bean sales this year are in line with the long-term trend, Schmidt continues. "We have noticed that demand for German green beans is on the decline. This is probably also because fresh beans are considered a classic cooking vegetable and therefore do not fit in with the trend toward ready-to-cook foods. After several expansions in recent years, we have reduced our capacity accordingly this year. And we are considering a further reduction in acreage for next year."
For more information:
Michael Schmidt
Gemüsebau Schmidt
In den Böllenruthen 12
68623 Lampertheim
[email protected]
www.schmidt-lampertheim.de