Agricultural fair: Austria is wooing German palates in Berlin

French mold cheese and raw ham from Italy – the local farmers have what they have at the neighboring trade fair stands “Green Week” strong competition in Berlin. Nevertheless, they show up farmers from all over Austria are confident these days when it comes to convincing primarily German visitors of their own products.

Anna Kaiblinger Mayer & Mayer from Krems is at the trade fair for the first time this year and is offering their balsamic vinegar. “I’m here to win German customers,” she tells the KURIER. Currently it is Export share their sales are still in the single digits. This should increase through the trade fair.

Styrian pumpkin seed oil and Wachau apricots

In addition to Kaiblinger, the Styrians have Sandra and Martin Pronnegg their stand. It is also their premiere at the “Green Week”. “We produce Pumpkin seed oil. “This is not so well known in Germany,” says Sandra Pronnegg. The neighboring country is “an important market.” To reach him, the couple runs an online shop.

Alfred Kausl from Marillenhof Kausl wants to raise awareness at the trade fair Wachau apricot increase. He sells drinks such as nectar and liqueur. The labels on the glass bottles show that his company has increasingly focused on exports to neighboring countries. The word is written on these in small print “Apricot” printed. “So that our German customers know what’s inside,” explains the senior boss Leopold Kausl.

The fact that the German market is so interesting is due to its size of more than 83 million inhabitants. It is also the most important foreign market for domestic agriculture. Loud Austrian Statistics 40 percent of them go Agrar-Export to the neighboring country.

Also at Niki Rettenbacher Exports from the organic farm cheese dairy Fürstenhof to Germany have increased steadily in recent years – especially in the organic sector. The Salzburger is unimpressed by the foreign competition: “With my soft cheese, I’m in competition with every French person. We really don’t need to hide from that,” he tells the KURIER.

In addition to exports, tourism is also becoming increasingly important for farmers

For him, the fair is not just about selling cheese and making contacts. Rettenbacher wants to make a vacation in Salzburg attractive to Berliners. Because local agriculture is closely linked to tourism, as well Johann Hörtnaglfederal chairman “Holiday on the farm”the KURIER reports.

His association has been represented at Green Week for 30 years. It’s about “image maintenance,” says the chairman. After all, not only exports, but also… tourism increasingly important for local farmers. According to surveys, around a third of farmers could no longer continue their own business without renting rooms for economic reasons, reports Hörtnagl.

The farmers’ task at the trade fair is also to get tourists excited about their local regions. We also know that here AMA-Marketingwhich organized the farmers’ stands and is also represented on site. In order to bring the Austrian lifestyle to Berlin, the marketing organization behind the AMA seal of approval on folk music, hut feeling and delicacies such as bacon dumplings and Kaiserschmarrn.

“German customers also know our products primarily from their vacations and they are happy when they are available in their home country,” says Simon Humer from the Thomabauer organic farm to the KURIER. This is his fourth time at “Green Week”. In recent years the trade fair has always been successful for him. For example, he has concluded several deals with German restaurateurs.

Small farming structure should be preserved – also because of the Mercosur deal

The Minister of Agriculture also emphasizes the growing importance of agricultural exports Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) at a press conference at the start of the trade fair. These are “increasingly important and indispensable for farmers’ income”.

It is important to maintain the small-scale structure of local agriculture. And not just because of the tourists, but also with regard to the EU-Mercosur-Dealwhich was signed on Saturday. “Austria’s agriculture must focus on quality. We cannot produce as cheaply as the Mercosur states.”

In Berlin, the minister once again underlined his rejection of this Free trade agreement. Also the President of the Farmers’ Union Georg Strasser and the President of the Chamber of Agriculture (LKÖ), Josef Moosbruggerthe Mercosur deal is met with anger.

Mercosur states were only represented sporadically at the trade fair

Moosbrugger criticizes the fact that production conditions in South American countries are incompatible with European law. And foods that don’t follow EU-Standards were produced “do not belong on the European market,” said the LKÖ president.

The Mercosur states Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay are only represented sporadically at the agricultural fair despite the Mercosur deal. And the few stalls don’t turn around beef still around Militarybut about cocktails and spirits.

Editorial note: The trip to Berlin took place at the invitation of the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture (LKÖ).