World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
Rosenheim farmer to end roadside pumpkin sales after thefts
Farmers in the Rosenheim region of Bavaria say more pumpkins are being taken from roadside self-service stands without payment.
Customers are expected to leave money in a cash box, but farmer Lorenz Reindl says thefts cost him five-figure sums each season.
Reindl has run stands for 15 years and says growing the pumpkins takes work and provides his livelihood.
He considered installing surveillance but decided against it.
Instead, he plans to remove his stands and sell pumpkins from his farm.
The change comes as pumpkin growing and self-service sales are expanding in Germany.
Reindl says the thefts also show a lack of appreciation for the products.
Farmers in the Rosenheim district of Bavaria say thefts from unattended roadside pumpkin stands are increasing.
Lorenz Reindl says pumpkin thefts cost his farm five figures per season.
Reindl plans to dismantle his self-service stands and sell pumpkins from his farm instead.
He says the decision is about recognizing the work behind the produce and earning a living from it.
- Who
- Lorenz Reindl, a farmer near Griesstätt, and other farmers in the Rosenheim district.
- What
- Reindl plans to dismantle his self-service pumpkin stands after repeated thefts.
- When
- During the 2026 pumpkin season. The articles were published on October 29 and November 2, 2026.
- Where
- The Rosenheim district in Bavaria, Germany.
- Why
- Farmers say pumpkins are increasingly taken without payment, causing losses. Reindl says the losses reach five figures per season.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Reindl has operated self-service stands.
Reindl says theft losses at his farm add up to five figures.
Reindl decided against installing a monitoring system and plans to dismantle the stands, selling pumpkins from his farm.
- Farm
- Hof Reindl near Griesstätt
- Seasonal theft losses
- Five figures, according to Reindl
- Self-service stand experience
- 15 years
- Planned change
- Dismantle the stands and sell pumpkins from the farm
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What people are saying
Es geht mir auch um die Wertschätzung