Spared love under pressure: Every fourth does not like the seasonal vegetables!

Spared love under pressure: Every fourth does not like the seasonal vegetables!

In Germany, the preference for asparagus has changed slightly in recent years. A current survey by YouGov, which was carried out on behalf of the German Press Agency, shows that every fourth adult (25%) does not like a freshly cooked white asparagus. Compared to three years ago, when it was still a fifth (20%), the skepticism compared to this popular seasonal vegetables seems to be gaining weight. This rejection is particularly pronounced by the younger generation. 27% of young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 like asparagus.

The differences within the age groups are significant. While 42% of generation Z reject asparagus, the 25- to 34-year-olds are already 31% and 34% for 35 to 44 year olds. In contrast, 80% of the over 55-year-old asparagus. This indicates that the enthusiasm for asparagus increases with age.

regional popularity and cultivation

Sparing cultivation is a central part of German agriculture. Germany is one of the four largest asparagus producers worldwide, with the popular white asparagus taking the largest cultivation area of ​​almost 200 square kilometers. The main construction regions are Lower Saxony, Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia. Typically, the asparagus season lasts about twelve weeks and starts with spring, but mostly ends on June 24th, St. John's Day. The average consumption per person is around 1.2 kilograms of fresh asparagus annually, although the value can vary slightly depending on the source, according to Statista even at 1.4 kilograms.

asparagus is not only popular in Germany, but also worldwide. Most of the asparagus harvest is carried out in China, which produces over 7 million tons per year. Nevertheless, Germany imports more asparagus than it exports, which gives the local farmers competition through cheaper imported goods, especially from countries such as Spain, Greece and Mexico. Many German farmers are therefore struggling with the economy of asparagus cultivation, and the number of companies decreases.

modern trends and challenges

At the same time there are positive developments in the field of ecological cultivation. In 2024, around 167 companies with organic asparagus were active, which represents an increase compared to 2016 when there were only 131 companies. The acreage for organic asparagus is approx. 1,785 hectares with a harvest of around 9,243 tons.

The popularity of asparagus is also shown in the preparation. Many Germans traditionally enjoy him with potatoes, ham and a hollandaise sauce. Despite the decreasing acceptance among younger people, asparagus remains an important seasonal vegetables and continues to be a permanent place in German cuisine.

Overall, the asparagus cultivation in Germany has arrived on a critical but also transforming point, as Radio Köln . The challenge will be to keep traditional vegetables attractive for new generations and at the same time improve agricultural conditions in order to secure quality and yield. The data on cultivation space and harvest yields show that despite the challenges, Germany remains an important player in the international asparagus market, as is Statista confirmed.

In the future, it is crucial to understand the reasons for falling acceptance among the younger generation and to recognize possible trends. A combination of modern cultivation, sustainable practices and adapted marketing could be necessary to anchor the valuable asparagus in German awareness. Current statistics on the cultivation area are also on Statista Available.