Asparagus and soft fruit: Technical crops for the same market
“In terms of production, these are two crops that require a certain precision and a high level of technical expertise,” explains Christian Befve, founder of the two international days and partner of Macfrut and Interco Nouvelle Aquitaine. “Many asparagus producers also grow soft fruit. In terms of timing, the complementarity is also interesting, since the asparagus harvest takes place before the soft fruit harvest (except for the strawberry, which is at the junction between the two crops). All asparagus growers can start growing soft fruit, whether in the ground or above ground. There are no prerequisites in terms of soil composition. On the other hand, soft fruit growers can diversify into asparagus if they wish.”

Even in conditions of heavy soil and rocky terrain, it is possible to produce asparagus using a technique that consists of ‘growing without soil in the soil’. “All you have to do is prepare the soil to a width of 1.5 m and a depth of 80 cm, which allows it to be completely corrected. With mulching, we can then protect the mound and preserve the structure we have created.” A technique devised by Christian Befve that is proving highly effective and also has the advantage of being cheaper than growing in the ground.

Another interesting similarity is the market for both product families. “Asparagus and soft fruits are luxury products. The consumers who eat asparagus have the same purchasing power as those who eat soft fruit. Over 50% of suppliers and marketers work with both asparagus and berries. These are two highly profitable markets (which together generate US$96 billion worldwide), with consumption mainly of blueberries soaring in many countries and demand for organic produce rising sharply, especially in Europe.”

Soft fruit: A sector rich in opportunities
Although soft fruit is now only grown on 600,000 hectares around the world, the area under production continues to increase. “The development of consumption is an obvious driver of this growth, but it is also driven by varietal innovation and producers who are investing in new varieties that are more resistant and better adapted to climate change. Developing production in consumer countries is also particularly interesting, given that soft fruit is very fragile and has difficulty withstanding transport, not to mention the trend towards consumption of local products. We should not stop as long as there is a market.”

Asparagus: A market in full recovery
The same applies to berry producers who would like to start growing asparagus. “The market is currently in full recovery, and we even have a shortage of asparagus plants. History has shown us that the balance between supply and demand was reached at 250,000 hectares. Today, we have planted around 190,000 hectares, so we are 60,000 hectares short of achieving this balance. Given the shortage of asparagus, the crisis is now behind us, and we need to plant now, because we can be sure of a reasonable market for the next 10 years. This is a great opportunity for berry growers to diversify into another lucrative crop. IAD is typically the kind of event that can respond to the needs and questions of growers who want to get started.

As proof of this, I recently gave a talk on asparagus in Spain to producers who pointed out the difficulties they were having in expanding their crops because of water restrictions and labor problems. But some techniques can save water if you know how to apply them at the right time. Establishing a greater distance between rows can also significantly reduce labor requirements. At the end of the conference, the growers were aiming to plant a total of 400 hectares over the next two years. When we respond to growers’ needs by providing practical solutions and good technical support, limiting thoughts give way to the desire to embark on production with greater peace of mind. This is also one of the aims of these two international days.”

The 4-day program will include technical visits focusing on asparagus and soft fruit, as well as conferences, workshops, demonstrations, and a trade fair.

Tuesday, October 7th – Asparagus Tour (Gironde):
In the morning, participants will visit Vignobles Bouillac, a farm covering 100 ha of vineyards and 20 ha of vine nurseries, which markets 15 ha of asparagus under the PGI Asperges du Blayais label. Jean-Pierre Bouillac, the farmer, and Danielle Chambaraud, president of the Association of Asperges du Blayais producers, will be on hand for the visit. Lunch and wine tasting will be held on site. In the afternoon, participants will visit the Lebourg farm, which covers 900 hectares, including 80 hectares of turf and 49 hectares of white asparagus, as well as corn (grain and popcorn), carrots, and potatoes.

Tuesday October 7th – Soft Fruit Tour (Lot-et-Garonne):
The tour will begin with a morning visit to Pépinières Saint-Armand and Fruits Rouges du Confluent, which grow 12 ha of strawberries in greenhouses (producing 900/1000 tons of strawberries a year), 20 ha of strawberry nurseries (producing 7 million tray-plants), and 40 ha of kiwis. The morning will end with lunch, before heading off to Aquisol, a farm with 60 ha of greenhouses, including 13 ha of strawberries (800T/year), 8 ha of raspberries (230T/year), and 8 ha of blueberries (160T/year). Various technical itineraries will be presented: conventional, organic, soilless, and open-field cultivation. Alongside soft fruit, the farm also produces vegetables such as aubergines, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, kohlrabi, spinach, and kiwis.

Wednesday and Thursday, October 8-9:
A trade fair will be held over the two days, with booths selling plant material, equipment, nurseries, services, marketing, research, and training. Technical visits and outdoor demonstrations (preparation, planting, maintenance, and harvesting equipment) will be organized during the event, with the possibility of on-site catering. Pitch sessions and technical workshops will also be run by exhibitors and sponsors in a central agora. The opening ceremony will take place at 11 am on Wednesday, and will close with a Cocktail and Show evening at the Cabaret Music-Hall “Le Grain d’Folie” at 7 pm in Artigues-près-Bordeaux.

Over the two days, participants will be able to visit Planasa: at 10 am, a presentation on strawberry research will be given, alongside a presentation on the different varieties of asparagus. At 3 pm, participants will have the opportunity to visit blueberry fields, and at 4 pm, they will discover “replanting asparagus on asparagus.”

From 3 pm to 5 pm on Thursday, there will be a conference on “Soft fruit: What innovations for tomorrow’s markets?”

Friday 10 October – Soft Fruit Tour (Dordogne):
In the morning, a visit to the Interprofessionnel Technical Center for Fruit and Vegetables in Lanxade will be organized. On this occasion, participants will discover the 190-hectare technology hall, where 52 species of fruit and vegetables are tested. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit the Invenio experimental station in the fruit and vegetable sector at Douville. Invenio is an association of fruit and vegetable growers who wish to combine their efforts in experimentation, varietal research, and technological innovation. A visit to the Douville site will provide an overview of the latest French research into strawberry and raspberry planting material and cultivation.

The afternoon will be devoted to a visit to the farm run by the Teychenné family, members of the Socave cooperative. This is an opportunity to discover traditional production in soil with the “PGI Périgord Strawberry” label, and unheated hydroponic production of remontant strawberries.

Innovations such as the Aspercut, France’s first harvesting robot, will be on display at IAD and IBD. In all, there are around ten harvesting robots in the world, which are said to have “greatly improved in performance and efficiency in recent years.” These robots “tend to be profitable,” which will inevitably have an impact on the market over the next few years.

Four days of sharing, visits, conferences, and meetings with a common objective for both events: To position ourselves as the true crossroads between research, production, technology, and marketing. The date is strategically chosen, after Fruit Attraction was held the previous week in Madrid. “This will make it easier for professionals from far away to travel to Bordeaux,” explains Christian Befve. “It is a unique opportunity to put growers in touch with marketers and suppliers, and to discover the latest technologies (bio-control, artificial intelligence, robotization…) that are gradually reorganizing the sector. Taking part in IAD and IBD is also an opportunity to understand how to adapt the corresponding cultivation techniques to the soil and climate conditions of each production site without distortion. Compliance with health and social regulations, respect for the environment, and anticipation of climate change are also key issues that will be addressed during this 4-day meeting. This really is a key event for any professional interested in growing asparagus or soft fruit.”

To register:
In English: https://iad-ibd.teamresa.net/?perslangue=en
In Spanish: https://iad-ibd.teamresa.net/?perslangue=es
In French: https://iad-ibd.teamresa.net/?&_p=A01&perslangue=fr

For more information:
Christian Befve
Befve&Co
christian@befve.com