“The PGI label really makes a difference during campaigns like this one!”
Prices struggle to hold up
The demand for asparagus increased at Easter, but there was a noticeable drop in the volumes sold compared to previous years. “There was no particular pressure at Easter time. Volumes were not very high, so supply adapted to the demand, and it was difficult to maintain prices. Sales were lower at Easter than in previous years, maybe due to the higher prices. Easter also came early this year, while it is usually celebrated at the heart of the asparagus season, so we were not able to offer the same prices as if Easter fell a couple weeks later.”
Consumers want the PGI label
It is precisely in this rather limited context of production that the PGI can make the difference. “In the past, with or without PGI, we have had to lower our prices when the market was saturated and volumes were considerable in all basins. But in the current context, the PGI can make all the difference. It reassures consumers and helps maintain prices. People are willing to pay the price as long as they get a quality product. Asparagus are now produced almost everywhere in France, so the PGI label is fundamental to the trade and to the promotion of asparagus. It is a guarantee of a particular identity and an asparagus with very little bitterness and a slightly sweeter taste.”
Expansion in line with the market
The asparagus from the Blayais region appeals to consumers thanks to its taste qualities, but it is also attracting growing interest from producers. “Our region is a wine-growing area. It is the region’s core business. Today, the wine industry is in crisis, especially in the Bordeaux region. And with over 70% of sand in the soil, asparagus has become the crop of choice for diversification in northern Gironde. As a result, over the last 3-4 years, we have been integrating more and more producers, although the volumes produced have not increased significantly, given the fragmented nature of our geographical area.”
Production growth must nevertheless be in line with the market situation. “We must not fall into the same trap as the wine industry. In other words, we must not over-plant and over-produce without taking into account the market’s capacity to absorb these volumes. We need to be reasonable and consistent with marketing. It is imperative that we respect all the rules of production and quality, to pay attention to the distribution circuit, to pricing and, of course, we must work together and stay united.”
For more information:
Danielle Chambaraud
Association IGP Asperges du Blayais
Danielle.chambaraud@asperges-blandine.fr
une culture saisonnière importante que le groupe Plantis vend en grandes quantités, généralement entre les dix premiers jours d’avril et la fin du mois de mai, conditionnée en bottes de 250 g et 500 g dans des cagettes de bois ou de carton.
Pour plus d’informations :
El espárrago es un artículo primaveral que Plantis Group comercializa normalmente con volúmenes considerables, desde la primera quincena de abril hasta finales de mayo, en manojos de 250 y 500 g colocados en cajas de madera o cartón.
Plantis Group
Deux mois après le début de la saison d’asperges vertes, Philippe Jean fait un point sur la campagne en cours : « Nous avons démarré début février sur des volumes assez faibles. Comme nous n’avons pas eu de gros pics de chaleur, il n’y a pas eu de pics de production. Nous avons atteint un plateau en termes de production et je ne pense pas que nous verrons arriver soudainement de gros volumes ». Une campagne qui s’avère donc bien plus homogène que celle de l’an passé : « L’année dernière, nous avions commencé un peu plus tôt, mais avions eu des vagues de froids qui avaient freiné la récolte. Le démarrage de campagne avait été relativement hétérogène et s’était stabilisé par la suite. Pour cette saison, la production est beaucoup plus régulière. A date, nous avons même vendu davantage de volumes que sur la même période l’an passé ».
