Study Shows Austrian Direct Farm Sales Rise, New German Farm Shop Opens

A recent Austrian study found that 29 % of farms now sell directly to consumers, with average income from these sales at 36 %. Two‑thirds of direct marketers say the model secures their farms, creating about 0.91 additional jobs per farm. Over the past five years, farms invested roughly €1.8 billion, 91 % of which stayed within Austrian companies, supporting an estimated 3,500 jobs in related sectors. More than half of the operators plan further investment in sales spaces, machinery and production technology.

In Litzendorf, Bavaria, the Biohof Schlake opened a new farm shop supported by the Öko‑Modellregion Bamberger Land. The shop offers a range of organic products from the farm and regional partners, and its construction costs were covered 50 % by public funding (45 % by the Amt für Ländliche Entwicklung Oberfranken and 5 % by the Landkreis Bamberg). The store aims to strengthen regional value creation and provides daily access to locally produced food.