Austrian farmers harvested fewer vegetables this year than last year. Despite an increase in the area under cultivation, the vegetable harvest was 3 percent lower than in 2022 due to weather conditions. However, the total harvest volume of 651,500 tons was 3 percent above the five-year average, as Statistics Austria announced on Monday. There was significant growth in the lettuce harvest, while the spinach harvest continued to decline.
Lettuce production rose to 53,400 tons due to more acreage, which was 10 percent above the previous year's figure and 13 percent above the five-year average. The spinach harvest, which was already very low in 2022, fell further (down 9% to 7,800 tons) and was 36% below the five-year average. Overall, cabbage, leafy, and stem vegetables recorded a slightly below-average production volume of 137,200 tons, which was 3% below the previous year's figure. According to Statistics Austria, the reason for the drop in yields was drought and storms. However, the mild autumn weather extended the harvest season and led to better availability of domestic vegetables.
Slight decline in pulses, root, and onion vegetables
The harvest volume of pulses, root, and onion vegetables amounted to 350,000 tons this year (down 4% in 2022) and was, therefore, well above the five-year average (up 6%). Onions accounted for 159,500 tons of this, making up almost a quarter of total vegetable production. Carrots increased slightly in terms of area, reaching a harvest of 121,000 tons (up 2% in 2022), while the yield of green peas fell to 8,700 tons (down 10% in 2022).
Poor start to the season impacts the fruiting vegetable season
The harvest volume of fruit vegetables amounted to 164,300 tons this year and was thus slightly below the previous year's level with a largely constant area under cultivation, down 2%, but roughly in line with the five-year average. According to Statistics Austria, the cool, low-light spring resulted in a poor start to the season, which could not be fully made up for over the course of the summer. At 57,000 tons, tomato production remained stable compared to the previous year, although more acreage was available for cultivation. The cucumber harvest fell by 2 percent to 43,400 tons. Melons, on the other hand, continued to increase in terms of area and recorded a 2% increase in production compared to the previous year at 2,300 tons.
Source: Statistik Austria