In a few days, the strawberry season will begin in Saxony. Once again, many helpers will be needed in the fields to pick the delicious fruit. However, the demand cannot be met by local workers, according to the regional directorate of the Federal Employment Agency. According to this, workers from abroad account for around a quarter of seasonal jobs in local agriculture. Most of them come from Eastern Europe, primarily from Romania, Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.
Searching for seasonal workers becomes more difficult
Fruit and vegetable cultivation in particular sees an increase in demand for seasonal workers for a few weeks or months from spring onwards - for example for strawberry or asparagus harvesting and in viticulture. "The demand for seasonal workers usually increases from March, with peaks between April and September," says the regional directorate. "In Saxony, around 4,000 people were employed as seasonal workers in agriculture during the peak season in September 2025."
Seasonal workers are not only needed for the harvest, but also for maintenance work, explained farmer Emmrich. "Finding them in Germany is also becoming more and more of a problem for us, which is why we have been relying on foreign helpers for a long time." There are currently 15 workers on his farm, mainly from Romania. "If we didn't have them, it would be really difficult and we are glad that they work for us."
Fresh strawberries from fields in the region again
On Tuesday, the Saxon Fruit Growers' Association officially heralds the start of the strawberry season. In the coming weeks, locally grown fruit will once again be increasingly available for purchase or can be picked in the fields in many places.
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