The strawberry season has begun: the Saxon Fruit Growers' Association is optimistic about the season. "We grow 175 hectares of strawberries in the association's area and expect a good harvest with good qualities of around 1,400 tons," said Jörg Geitel, head of the association, at the official start of the season in Zittau. "Things are really getting going now." We have a good feeling. Prices would be based on last year and range between 4.50 euros and 6.50 euros per 500 grams.
How have the harvest and acreage developed in Saxony?
The strawberry is the dominant soft fruit in Saxony's fruit growing sector. Data on the area under cultivation varies. The Saxon Ministry of Agriculture puts the area at 240 hectares. The association stated that 175 hectares were under cultivation this year.
However, there has been a downward trend in recent years. According to the State Statistical Office, the number of farms growing strawberries has fallen by 21 to 70 within ten years. The harvest volume has fallen much more drastically. In 2015, it was still more than three tons, for this year not even half of that is expected.
What influence does the weather have on the harvest?
Geitel acknowledged that the frosty nights at the end of April led to slight frost damage. Although this will have a slight effect on the yield, it will not have a major impact.
Are there enough seasonal workers for the harvest?
As in other areas of agriculture and fruit growing, the strawberry harvest cannot be covered by local workers. According to the employment agency, workers from abroad account for around a quarter of seasonal jobs in local agriculture. Most of them come from Eastern Europe, especially Romania, Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.
The demand for seasonal workers increases for a few weeks or months from spring onwards, especially in fruit and vegetable cultivation - 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 employment agency. In September 2025, around 4,000 people were employed as seasonal workers in Saxony's agricultural sector.
Seasonal workers are not only needed for the harvest, but also for maintenance work, explains Thomas Emmrich from the Naundorf-Niedergoseln agricultural cooperative near Oschatz: "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."
