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Insufficient Compensation: Demand for Strawberry Benefits in Citizens' Assistance Fund

Strawberries are a favorite among Germans. Over the past ten years, their price has more than doubled and keeps climbing. Consequently, the VdK is advocating for interventions in social policy.

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Strawberry favorites amid German populace surge in cost over past decade, with prices still...
Strawberry favorites amid German populace surge in cost over past decade, with prices still climbing. Consequently, VdK advocates for social-political interventions.

Insufficient Compensation: Demand for Strawberry Benefits in Citizens' Assistance Fund

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By: Fabian Hartmann

Strawberries: A German Favorite Facing a Steep Climb

Germans have a sweet tooth for strawberries, whether they're in a fruit salad, on a cake, or just by themselves. The season of juicy, succulent strawberries runs from May to early August, making them a delightful addition to any German's summer. According to the Federal Center for Nutrition (BZfE), the average German gobbled down approximately 3.3 kilograms of strawberries in 2024 [1]. However, much like many other foods, strawberries have become a costly indulgence over the past decade.

The social association VdK (Volksbund Deutsche Konsumgenossenschaft e.V.) calls for political intervention due to the rising cost of strawberries, leaving lower-income population groups struggling to keep up.

The Soaring Cost of Strawberries: A Crippling Increase

Since summer 2024, the price of German strawberries has surged by around 10% [5]. As of June 2025, the average price for a kilogram of strawberries was a hefty 5.87 euros. This substantial jump in price could be a harbinger of things to come, as the Tagesschau reports that it may mark the lowest price of the entire strawberry season [2].

The escalating costs of food have left essential items out of the reach of many low-income earners and social benefit recipients. VdK President Verena Bentele is urging the federal government to intervene, proposing an increase in the social benefit and reduced value-added tax on essential foodstuffs to give lower-income earners more purchasing power [4].

A Closer Look: Affording the Luxury of Health

Bentele stresses the importance of regularly adjusting the social benefit regulations to account for current price developments and the costs associated with maintaining a healthy and sufficient diet. In her interview with Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), Bentele advocates for integrating the cost of food into the monthly social benefit regulations to ensure that lower-income earners can afford to eat healthily [4].

Subsidizing Strawberries for Social Benefit Recipients?

While the average price for strawberries has risen by around 10% since summer 2024, they have nearly doubled in price over the last ten years [1]. The primary culprit is increased labor costs, accounting for approximately 60% of production costs[3]. Many laborers on strawberry farms hail from Eastern European countries, such as Poland or Romania, and work only during the peak season in Germany.

While this intensifying competition from Southern Europe, represented by Spain's export of around 74,000 tons of strawberries to Germany each year [5], contributes to the affordability of strawberries, it takes a toll on domestic producers. Simon Schumacher, managing director of the Association of South German Asparagus and Strawberry Growers, asserts that the Spanish model does not serve as a benchmark for German producers, as they prefer to focus on quality and sustainability over competitive pricing [3].

Additional Insights:

  • German consumers face soaring food prices: The rapid increase in food prices is not limited to strawberries, and many other staple foods have seen similar price hikes [6].
  • Pesticide use and regulations: European approvals for pesticides used on strawberries have raised safety concerns over their residual levels and impacts on consumers and the environment [1].

Sources:

  1. BZfE - Ernährung
  2. Tagesschau - Preise
  3. RND - Preissteigerungen
  4. RND - Konsumgenossenschaft
  5. Statista - Schwarziger Erdbeerimport
  6. Tagesschau - Preise Allgemein
  7. Struggling with rampant food prices, Fabian Hartmann suggests that German authorities consider subsidizing food items, like strawberries, to help lower-income populations afford a healthy cooking lifestyle within their budget-travel plans.
  8. In light of the steady increase in the cost of food-and-drink items, such as strawberries, the president of VdK proposes adjusting social benefit regulations and incorporating Food-and-drink expenses to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
  9. With the escalating costs of favorite fruits like strawberries, the focus may shift from luxurious travel to local healthy-cooking within one's budget, as a way to prioritize nutrition while managing financial constraints.

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