Edibles - Cucumber harvest kicks off in Spreewald
Farmers in Brandenburg are now reaping cucumbers from the Spreewald region. Approximately eight farming companies anticipate gathering around 32,000 tons of cucumbers in the upcoming months, as mentioned by the Spreewald Association at the beginning of the cucumber harvest in Lübben.
The plants sustained considerable stress during the heatwave in May, as there was a lot of sun and wind. However, the weather during the cucumber growth phase was rather typical. The cucumbers in the Spreewald area grow on approximately 512 hectares, with 60 hectares designated for organic production and 75 hectares used for late-season cucumbers like dill or mustard cucumbers. Post-harvest, seven farms will employ traditional Spreewald recipes to process the cucumbers.
Members of the Spreewald Association are dealing with increased labor costs due to the minimum wage, which poses a challenge for the farms. Additionally, they desire that in the future, the origins of food raw materials be clearly labeled on food items.
Spreewald cucumbers, Spreewald horseradish, Beelitz asparagus, Peitz carp, and Spreewald cucumber soup are all protected products of origin from Brandenburg. Since 1999, the "Spreewald cucumbers" have been acknowledged by the EU Commission.
Spreewald Association Website https://www.spreewaldverein.de/
