At the height of the French asparagus season, the national association Asperges de France warns of “serious abuses threatening the economic balance of the sector, particularly in wholesale markets and non-supermarket retail circuits.”
Massive low-cost imports disrupting the market
“For over a month now, imported asparagus has been flooding the MIN (French wholesale markets) at particularly low prices,” explains Asperges de France. These foreign supplies, reportedly coming from Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, and Spain, “weaken the sales of French production during its peak season by placing heavy pressure on both prices and market outlets.” While the association emphasizes it is “not at all opposed to imports, which have their place when they complement the French offer during volume shortages,” it denounces “the massive use of foreign asparagus during the national production peak as a severe blow to French industry stakeholders who have been working for years to structure a high-quality, sustainable supply at fair prices.”
Suspicions of origin fraud (“francisation”)
Several recurring reports this season suggest that imported asparagus is being fraudulently relabeled as “Origin France,” especially at market stalls and in small-scale retail, outside the major distribution networks. Asperges de France reminds that “these practices are illegal, mislead consumers, and destroy trust in origin labeling,” also pointing to “significant economic losses” for the French asparagus sector. “This year’s relatively profitable price levels make these types of fraud even more tempting for unscrupulous operators.”
Unfair and destabilizing commercial practices
“The asparagus sector also suffers from its low level of organization. This partial structuring fosters unfair commercial practices, such as post-sale pricing (PAV), which are still too widespread.”
For more information:
AOP Nationale Asperges de France
MIN de BRIENNE
110 quai de Paludate
33800 Bordeaux – France
Tel: +33 (0)5 64 31 08 49
www.asperges-de-france.fr
