There have been heavy rains recently, particularly in Austria and Hungary. One consequence: horseradish becomes more expensive.
According to industry sources, the price of horseradish is expected to rise to a new all-time high this year. At the start of the harvest in October and November, prices for raw materials had already risen by at least 60 percent, said the Kulinaria Germany association, which represents around 130 medium-sized companies in the food industry, on Tuesday. The reasons are weather extremes and declining cultivated areas.
In the main European growing regions of Hungary and Austria, heavy rainfall last year meant that the harvest was very poor. Not only did the yields fall, but around 20 percent of the seedlings required for planting in spring 2024 were also missing. These seedlings are therefore obtained from the lateral roots and are crucial for the coming harvest.
There is also high demand from industrial processors, according to the association. They are looking for raw materials due to empty stocks, which is putting additional pressure on the market.