There are already fresh strawberries everywhere, enticing with their sweet scent. Unfortunately, these so-called early strawberries are imported from southern countries and at considerable cost to the climate and the environment.
Most of the strawberries that can now be bought in supermarkets come from Spain, predominantly from the region around Huelva in the southwest of the country. This is one of the driest regions in Spain; according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), there are strawberry plantations after strawberry plantations on more than 10,000 hectares where pine forests used to stand. HEIDELBERG24 explains why you should stay away from these fruits.
Nutritional values for strawberries |
per 100g |
energy |
39 kcal |
carbohydrates |
6g |
of which sugar |
5.6g |
fiber |
3.8g |
Fat |
0.5g |
vitamin C |
56 mg |
Vitamin E |
0.3 mg |
Beta-carotene |
3 mcg |
magnesium |
12 mg |
iron |
0.2 mg |
potassium |
140 mg |
Where do strawberries come from in spring?
Most of the strawberries that we can buy in spring are grown with high water consumption, intensive use of fertilizer and sometimes on illegal land in Spain. The sweet fruits are transported to us by plane and therefore have a very high overall CO₂ footprint. Although strawberries are one of the healthiest types of fruit, you should avoid them in April. You can read more tips on healthy eating here.
Even earlier in the year, strawberries come from Morocco, Egypt, Israel, New Zealand and Mexico. In spring it is mainly Spanish strawberries that are transported to Germany with huge logistical effort. This is because strawberries have to be eaten very quickly after picking, otherwise they will bruise and start to spoil. Strawberries taste delicious in muesli and you can find out here which oat flakes are the healthiest.
Why are early strawberries so harmful?
Basically, early strawberries from Spain and other southern countries are very sensitive to rot and fungal diseases. As a result, they are grown conventionally with a lot of chemicals. So it's no wonder that pesticide residues can often be found here. In addition to the major water problem and the high CO₂ footprint, early strawberries are often contaminated with pesticides.
As early as 2008, Greenpeace found pesticide residues in 78 percent of conventionally grown strawberries and this balance has certainly not improved since then due to droughts and monoculture. However, in investigations, the loads were largely within the permissible range. There is no immediate danger to human health, but you should choose organic fruits if possible if you want to buy early strawberries.
It is better to buy strawberries regionally and seasonally
Even if the temptation is great and strawberries are particularly healthy with their high content of vitamin C, we should be patient and wait until the first German strawberries are finally available to buy in May. But pesticides are also used in German strawberry cultivation, so it's best to choose organic products and avoid the plastic bowl when shopping.
Anyone who buys from a strawberry farm nearby can find out directly from the producer about the cultivation and harvest conditions. This avoids long transport routes and supports regional agriculture. You can also grow strawberries quite easily at home in the garden or on the balcony. Your own harvest always tastes best. This list shows you which fruits are particularly healthy.
Strawberry cultivation in Germany continues to decline
Unfortunately, strawberry cultivation in Germany continues to decline due to high labor costs and dry summers. In addition, late frosts often lead to crop failures, which means that more and more farmers are opting against strawberries and instead opting for asparagus, for example. Unfortunately, this in turn promotes the sale of strawberries from abroad because they can be produced more cheaply. You can find out here what you should pay attention to when buying asparagus
Strawberries are currently grown on around 15,000 hectares in Germany. This corresponds to an area roughly the size of Schleswig-Holstein. According to the Federal Statistical Office, strawberry cultivation areas in Germany fell from 19,123 hectares in 2014 to 14,862 hectares in 2022. Organic cultivation plays a comparatively minor role in Germany with only 250 hectares and has been declining for years. (khei)