Cabbage has yielded well on the fields of Varaždin despite the drought and high temperatures, with producers on some plots expecting up to 25 tonnes of cabbage per hectare. Prices have largely remained stable, according to producers.
Along the Varaždin – Ivanec road, 74-year-old Marija from Jurketinac sells her produce. She runs her own farm (OPG) and works four hectares of land herself. Cabbage, peppers, tomatoes and potatoes come directly from her field, and a bag of Varaždin cabbage weighing around 20 kilograms costs 15 euros at her stand. Marija says that customers stop by, but less is sold because it is expensive for people.
Ivan Đuras from Tužno points out that without irrigation, it would be difficult for anything to survive. He has a pipe and pump connection on every plot of land, allowing him to water the crops, which enables him to achieve Varaždin cabbage yields of around 25 tonnes per hectare despite the drought. These yields are significantly lower than those of hybrid varieties.
Marija Cafuk from Domitrovac says that this plot would yield around 25 tonnes of cabbage, but if they had planted a hybrid for pickling, it would have been up to 100 tonnes. The price for a kilogram of Varaždin cabbage ranges between 50 and 80 cents, and Cafuk notes that this year, as last year, the price for a bag of Varaždin cabbage is 20 euros. People have not changed their habits despite everything becoming more expensive, she adds.
Đuras says that producers and buyers often perceive the price differently. Those in the city say it is too expensive, while those in the countryside say they are selling it too cheaply, he explains. According to him, 40 to 50 cents per kilogram is roughly satisfactory.
Varaždin cabbage remains in demand due to its thin leaves, flat heads and distinctive taste.
