The delivery of the first Swiss rhubarb on April 5 officially heralded the start of the new season in the canton of Thurgau. "Due to the weather, we are starting the new season about ten days later than last year. For now, however, we expect to harvest almost the same amount as last year. Even though Dutch forcing rhubarb has been available again at slightly lower prices since last week, most customers, including retailers, specifically ask for Swiss produce," says Pascal Egger, who manages the family business together with his father and two brothers.
Rhubarb is considered the first harbinger of spring from local open-field cultivation, followed by head and iceberg lettuce, which are expected to be available from calendar week 17. Egger: "So far, we have enjoyed optimal growing conditions and have already had to irrigate some of our fields. This contrasts with the very wet previous year." Due to wet field conditions, the potato harvest, in particular, was extremely challenging in large parts of Switzerland. "Compared to other growing areas, we got off lightly and had an average potato harvest overall. This means that we will be able to manage the transition to the new harvest for waxy potatoes, but for mealy potatoes, it will phase out."
© Egger Gemüsebau AGView of the Egger company site in the heart of the canton of Thurgau. Last year, the company celebrated its 35th anniversary.
In the case of onions, yields in 2024 were comparatively weaker, Egger continues. "The first suppliers have already sold off the stock, which is why the borders have been open to imports since April 1. Our stocks will probably also be sold out by the end of the month. We were already out of red onions by the beginning of March. In recent years, there have been multiple failures and bottlenecks, but in principle, we are aiming for a year-round supply of Swiss onions."
© Egger Gemüsebau AGInsights into the various divisions of Egger AG: In addition to food retail and gastronomy customers, numerous farm shops are also supplied.
The family business, founded in 1989, is a solely open-field vegetable growing operation and supplies the Swiss food retail trade as well as gastronomic customers. In addition to its own outdoor crops, vegetables – including greenhouse produce – are also purchased and traded from fellow farmers. Egger: "We offer almost the complete range of outdoor vegetables and see healthy growth across the range." To meet the increasing demand for Swiss vegetables, cultivation capacities have been gradually expanded. "There is sufficient land available in our region. This is positive for us, as it allows us to continue growing. However, in general, this trend indicates that many producers are giving up farming, which certainly points to a structural change towards larger operations."
© Egger Gemüsebau AGThe start of the regional rhubarb harvest traditionally marks the beginning of the new outdoor growing season. At the start of the season, prices are slightly above the previous year's level.
For more information:
Pascal Egger
Egger Gemüsebau AG
Industriestrasse 9
8575 Bürglen TG, Switzerland
Tel: +41 71 634 81 81
info@eggergemuese.ch
www.eggergemuese.ch