Strawberries are more expensive than ever: VdK calls for help for families at risk of poverty!

Strawberries are more expensive than ever: VdK calls for help for families at risk of poverty!

The strawberry season in Germany is one of the highlights of the year and not only brings joy into the kitchen, but also raises pressing social questions. In particular, the rising prices of strawberries, which have risen by around 10 percent since the summer of 2024, are bringing the issue into the public eye. Current data shows that the price of a kilogram of German strawberries rose from 5.31 euros in June 2024 to 5.87 euros in June 2025, an increase of 56 cents. This has a particular impact on lower-income population groups who are already struggling with financial challenges. According to the Merkur, the doubling of strawberry prices in the last ten years could be attributed to increased labor costs, which account for 60 percent of production costs.

Against this background, the social association VdK is calling for urgent social policy measures. VdK President Verena Bentele suggests increasing citizens' money and reducing VAT on basic foods. She emphasizes the need for the standard rates of citizen's benefit to be adjusted to price developments, as millions of children and households are affected by the stagnating standard rates. Access to fresh strawberries, which many people take for granted, has now become unaffordable for recipients of citizens' money, further fueling the discussion about social injustice.

Growing social inequality

Strawberries are not only a popular fruit, they also symbolize the growing social inequality in Germany. The price development is directly related to the debate about fair working conditions in agriculture. The seasonal workers, who often come from Eastern European countries, not only complain about low wages, but also precarious living and working conditions. Many of these workers are employed during the peak season in Germany, leading to a growing discussion about decent accommodation and fair pay.

The Association of Southern German Asparagus and Strawberry Growers, represented by managing director Simon Schumacher, points out that German strawberry producers are in competition with cheaper imports from southern Europe. Spain exports about 74 tons of strawberries to Germany every year at lower prices made possible by a much lower minimum wage of 8.37 euros. This raises the question of whether the working models in Spain should serve as a model for Germany.

Demands and political discussion

There is an ongoing discussion in the political landscape about the minimum wage, the standard rates for citizens' benefits and the appropriate remuneration of seasonal workers. Some politicians are calling for recipients of citizen's money to work in agriculture to improve their financial situation. But the precarious conditions in the industry mean that the discussion is becoming increasingly complex.

It remains to be seen how policymakers will address the current challenges and what measures will be taken to ensure access to food for all population groups. While strawberries continue to appear on supermarket shelves, the social discourse about justice and fair conditions in agriculture is more lively than ever. The social association VdK appeals to those responsible to act quickly to combat inequality and maintain social peace, as reporting on Bürgergeld shows.