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“Asparagus prices are expected to be similar to those of last year” in Germany by FreshPlaza

Posted on by Lola
Asparagus Update Weeks 10-11:

“Asparagus prices are expected to be similar to those of last year”

Following a rainy autumn and winter, there’s a glimmer of hope in the fields: the first asparagus spears have been discovered. However, this year’s asparagus season is off to a slow start. Significant quantities of asparagus are expected to hit the direct market by Easter. Asparagus prices are anticipated to be in line with last year’s.
According to the AMI, Germany’s self-sufficiency rate for asparagus was at 83 percent last year. This makes white asparagus one of the few vegetables produced and consumed to this high degree in Germany. Purchasing domestic asparagus not only secures the country’s self-sufficiency but is also sustainable and fair. The short transportation distances save a significant amount of CO2. With 12.41 EUR, Germany ranks fourth in Europe in terms of minimum wage after Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Ireland for 2024. Harvest workers in Germany receive a higher minimum wage than those in France (11.65 EUR), Spain (6.78 EUR), and Greece (4.51 EUR). Italy does not have a nationwide minimum wage.

Baden-Württemberg:
This week, a few operations might already harvest some asparagus. By the end of March, the first significant quantities of regional asparagus will be available. Simon Schumacher, CEO of the Association of South German Asparagus and Strawberry Growers e.V., is optimistic about the season: “Growers have removed unprofitable and old asparagus plants from production to offset rising production costs. We expect asparagus prices to be similar to last year. As always, direct marketing offers asparagus at various price points to suit every budget.”

Hesse:
Rolf Meinhardt from Tannenhof has been an asparagus farmer for over 40 years. Yet, he has never started harvesting asparagus this early. New cultivation techniques and the mild winter make it possible, he says. The farmer from Weiterstadt has already harvested several hundred kilos of the vegetable. Top-quality asparagus is currently priced at 17 to 18 EUR.

Bavaria:
In Bavaria, some asparagus is expected to be harvested in week 11. However, larger quantities are not anticipated until April. “Of course, we need the sun,” says asparagus farmer Christian Schiebel from Pörnbach. Hans Gänger from Lower Bavaria expects larger volumes only by the beginning of April, which is also when distribution to larger markets is set to start.

NRW:
Bernd Hesseling from Bauernmarkt Lindchen uses waste heat to warm a portion of his asparagus fields in the Kleve region. Hesseling has observed the trend towards a longer and especially earlier asparagus season for some time. Many farmers now regulate the temperature in the asparagus mounds through tunnels or foils, and with pre-warmed fields, this idea is expected to be intensified. “I believe this is the innovation step for Asparagus 2.0,” Hesseling stated. It’s a great opportunity and a “promising matter” for farmers in the Lower Rhine region to stand out against imported goods.

For asparagus farmers in the Voreifel and foothills, Easter comes too early this year. It’s impossible to predict the yield, as the weather’s cooperation remains uncertain. “We can now start the upcoming season with sufficient soil moisture,” says one farmer.

Brandenburg:
In the state of Brandenburg, the first asparagus of this season has already been harvested on the fields of the Gut Herrenhölzer in Bensdorf. (Potsdam-Mittelmark).

 

« Une saison positive d’asperges en perspective » « 2024 sera une année de gros calibres » selon Maxime Gervasoni du Tresquois par FreshPlaza

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Maxime Gervasoni, Le Tresquois : « Une saison positive d’asperges en perspective »

« 2024 sera une année de gros calibres »

Le Tresquois a ramassé ses premières asperges fin février. Un début de saison précoce par rapport aux autres années : « Nous avons 15 jours d’avance dans la récolte des asperges sous tunnel. Ce mois de février a été marqué par une forte pluviométrie et beaucoup d’heures de froid. Une bonne configuration pour avoir de gros calibres. La campagne s’annonce donc plutôt qualitative », rapporte Maxime Gervasoni. Bien que cette pluie abondante pénalise aujourd’hui le ramassage des asperges rendant le passage des machines difficile, l’asparagiculteur voit le côté positif de la situation : « Nous manquions vraiment d’eau dans le Sud, le déficit hydrique était important. Donc nous avançons certes moins vite dans la récolte, mais au moins maintenant les nappes phréatiques sont remplies ».

Des volumes qui s’intensifient dès cette semaine
C’est cette semaine que les volumes d’asperges vont vraiment s’intensifier. « Nous prévoyons d’avoir des volumes plutôt normaux pour Pâques avec des niveaux de prix plutôt élevés, étant donné que les fêtes sont situées tôt dans le calendrier cette année. Je pense également que nous devrions avoir une bonne fin de campagne avec l’augmentation de la consommation que l’on risque d’avoir sur la période estivale avec les Jeux Olympiques. C’est donc une saison positive que nous avons en perspective ».

Un marché qui commence à se mettre en place
Une intensification de la production allant de pair avec une augmentation de la demande : « Le marché se met en place à partir de maintenant. Bien que nous soyons arrivés trop tôt pour la consommation, nous avons de bons niveaux de prix depuis le début de la campagne. On sent désormais que les clients sont au rendez-vous. Les gens ont envie de nouveaux produits de saison tels que les fraises et les asperges ».

Des opportunités commerciales favorisées par la loi AGEC
La commercialisation cette année devrait également être facilitée par le nouveau positionnement de la loi AGEC : « Nous sommes vraiment contents de pouvoir encore vendre nos asperges dans du flow pack plutôt que du papier kraft. Il s’agit d’un réel atout lorsque l’on travaille avec les GMS et les centrales d’achat, nous permettant ainsi de faire du volume tout en garantissant la fraîcheur de nos produits ».

Une augmentation de la production d’asperges vertes
Si l’entreprise il y a trois ans proposait exclusivement de l’asperge blanche, elle consacre désormais chaque année un peu plus de parcelles à l’asperge verte : « L’objectif est d’arriver à 30 % d’asperges vertes. Chaque saison nous en commercialisons 10 % de plus ». Une décision qui reflète l’augmentation de la consommation d’asperges vertes.

Pour plus d’informations :
SARL Tresacois
208 ancienne route de Lyon
30330 Connaux
Tél. : 04.66.82.47.46
Port. : 06.48.81.85.00

 

First heated asparagus from Northern Baden now available by FreshPlaza

Posted on by Lola
Asparagus Update Week 10:

First heated asparagus from Northern Baden now available

The onset of this year’s asparagus harvest is drawing ever closer. However, the extensive rainfall during winter is causing concern for asparagus farmers across many growing regions in Germany. Many are already anticipating a delayed start to the season. With Easter arriving early this year, there’s a possibility that the asparagus harvest may not happen before Easter.
Baden-Württemberg: First heated asparagus already available
In Northern Baden, the first asparagus has already been harvested: On March 2nd, around 30 kilograms were harvested at Forlenhof by Steffen Großhans. This was made possible by the 250 dairy cows on Forlenhof, or rather their excretions. These excretions power a biogas plant that produces electricity and heat by fermenting biomass. At the peak of the asparagus season, the quantity will rise to an average of about 150 kilograms. Then, the current price of 25 EUR per kilogram will drop slightly, according to the forecast.

NRW: 20 euros for a kilogram of asparagus?
“Three hours of sunshine per day would be enough, then maybe we’ll have asparagus by Easter!”, says Johannes Miermann in an interview with Tagesschau. At least there will be asparagus later in the year. However, possibly less, which would make the asparagus more expensive: “So, we’re getting close to the 20-euro mark per kilo,” says Justus Beckmann. “But the price will go down over the season.” At Wesel asparagus producer Peter Heinen’s fields, work has not been possible so far. “And that’s probably going to take a few more weeks,” he says in an interview with NRZ.

Also, Ludwig Hengemann is a bit gloomy about the situation for lovers of the white gold: “I highly doubt we can harvest asparagus in commercial quantities by Easter. We might get a handful of spears out, but not much more.” The 30-year-old farmer operates an asparagus farm in Everswinkel in the district of Warendorf (NRW). He primarily cultivates white, but also green asparagus on eight hectares of land.

Lower Saxony: Optimism despite wet conditions
Asparagus growers in Lower Saxony are hoping for dry weather for the upcoming harvest season. If it stays dry over the next few days, some farms may be able to offer their first homegrown asparagus by Easter, said Fred Eickhorst from the Association of Asparagus and Berry Growers based in Sandhatten near Oldenburg. However, he remains optimistic that at least some farms will be able to offer the first regional asparagus by Easter.

Eastern Germany: Moisture could lead to smaller spears
Floods and a lot of rain: Saxony’s asparagus farmers are also looking beneath their covers with concern this year. The roots of the noble vegetable are often still wet, and can even rot. MDR visited three asparagus farms in the Altmark, at Nieschütz (LK Meißen), and in Leipzig. In addition, they address the increasing image problem of the noble vegetable: Younger customers have become rare. Consumption and consequently the cultivation area have been declining for some time.

 

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