Despite the wet weather, there was a pleasing harvest of beetroot in Dithmarschen, Florian Jochims, managing director of Küsten Bete GmbH, told us upon request. "In contrast to the spring, the summer was not too wet so the harvest took place according to plan from July to the end of October. Traditionally, the beetroot is stored in October, after which cold-storage goods are used from Christmas onwards." Except for minimal fluctuations, the prices of the processed, vacuum-packed product have remained almost unchanged for three years and can currently be described as "adequate".
The product specialist is now in its third year of processing the root vegetable and has the most modern plant technology for peeling, cooking, vacuuming, and packaging. "We only buy small quantities, but basically, we have enough of our own produce until the new harvest in July. About 80 per cent of our produce is medium-sized (40-80 mm) and will be processed locally. The small sizes go to industry, while the large sizes up to 100 mm are offered to the fresh market."
Florian Jochims grows beetroot, celeriac, and turnips on around 50 hectares of land. These field vegetables are primarily marketed through Küsten Gemüse GmbH, a subsidiary of Gemüsering.
Good celeriac year despite delay
In contrast to the beetroot, the wet field conditions hit the celeriac hard, Jochims continues. "Normally, we start the new harvest at the beginning of August, but this year we were only able to plant out very late, which is why we could only harvest from mid-September. Nevertheless, the crop recovered very well towards the end, so the overall yield was only slightly below average, with good prices and demand. In all likelihood, regional celeriac will be available until June so there will be a gap of about two months until the new harvest starts in August. We will not be offering any bought-in produce during this period."
Dithmarsch turnips
Catastrophic turnip harvest
The third and final mainstay of the product range is turnip cultivation. Jochims: "We are looking back on a catastrophic harvest, with losses of up to 50 per cent. I have never experienced anything like it in my entire career. Prices were high and encouraging, but not nearly enough to make up for the losses. As things stand, there will only be German turnips for another two weeks, and we had to offer the first imported goods from Scotland before Christmas, whereas we normally don't offer Scottish goods until after the new year. But that was already foreseeable in September."
However, Scotland also had a relatively modest turnip harvest with a high proportion of smaller turnips (1 instead of 1.5 kg), so fewer goods would be available here as well. This in turn would lead to corresponding additional costs and surcharges.
The processed beetroot is primarily offered in 500g units, although 5kg bulk packs are also produced at the request of customers.
Strong growth for beetroot
Jochims has observed a strong increase in demand for vacuum-packed beetroot in particular. "We have gradually expanded our cultivation capacity to the current 45 hectares over the past three years and are planning a further expansion of five hectares for the 2025/26 season. The purpose of this growth strategy is to build up a buffer so that we can always guarantee the connection to the new harvest in July," he concludes.
Photo credit: Küsten Bete GmbH
For more information:
Florian Jochims
Küsten Bete GmbH
Hohe Str. 1
25704 Elpersbüttel
Tel: +49 4832 2287
[email protected]
www.kuestengemuese.de