The vegetable harvest in Tyrol has been in full swing for several weeks. "Lettuce, iceberg lettuce, colored lettuce, kohlrabi, and spring onions are now being harvested in the open field. We were able to harvest radishes in our polytunnels at the end of February/beginning of March, and then from our fields a few weeks later. Just in time for Holy Week, we also had plenty of spinach from our own cultivation. This is always an important reference point for us because a lot of spinach is eaten throughout Austria on Maundy Thursday," reports Andreas Norz, managing director of Ulrichshof GmbH, based in Hall in Tyrol.
The vegetable farm is located east of the provincial capital, Innsbruck, in the heart of Tyrol's leading vegetable-growing region. In contrast to last year, this year's growing conditions are ideal. Norz: "Last summer, there were extreme hailstorms, which are very rare in this magnitude. All outdoor crops suffered as a result, and on some plots there were serious losses of up to 100 percent. This year, however, we have been spared such weather events so far. The current dry spell is easy for us, Tyrolean vegetable producers, to cope with, as all our land can be irrigated."
Insight into lettuce and spinach cultivation
40 years of vegetable growing
Ulrichshof GmbH has been dedicated to the production and processing of a wide variety of vegetables, mainly outdoor vegetables, for exactly 40 years this year. The Austrian food retail trade has been its main customer for many years. "Over the years, we have adapted our operating procedures 100 percent to their needs, which in turn contributes to the high efficiency of our business," says the producer.
In addition to a wide variety of vegetables, strawberries were also grown outdoors in the past. However, due to weather conditions, among other things, the strawberry cultivation has been greatly reduced in recent years, confirms Norz, who also points to the high personnel costs. Instead, melons are growing and thriving in protected cultivation on the farm for the first time this year. This is a pilot project: "We were looking for a suitable summer crop for our polytunnels and decided on cantaloupe and mini watermelons."
Spring onions and outdoor radishes were ready for harvest at the end of March.
Difficult conditions characterize Tyrolean vegetable growing
Despite numerous modern farms and good conditions, Norz believes that vegetable cultivation in the state of Tyrol will face challenges in the coming years. "We, Tyrolean vegetable producers, grow top-quality vegetables: we have been leaders for years in radishes, cauliflower, broccoli, etc., thanks to the cool nighttime and warm daytime temperatures. However, the other conditions are rather unfavorable. Available land for lease is extremely limited and expensive. In addition, we have to contend with high regulatory requirements. We can therefore only conclude that there is no desire to expand vegetable growing in Tyrol," concludes Norz.
For more information:
Andreas Norz
Ulrichshof GmbH
Kasernenweg 30A
6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
Tel.: +43 (0) 5223 492859
Fax: +43 (0) 5223 492523
[email protected]
www.ulrichshof.tirol