Archive
After being the Guru and the Pope (alive), I become the Google of asparagus!!!! by Antequera
The farm in Autreville sur Moselle at Jean Paul Bruché’s has been offering asparagus for over a century, according to France Bleue.
Discover the Lebourg family’s asparagus via Sud Ouest
I better understand the relatively high price of asparagus by Sud Ouest
Asparagus grower Leo Henckens (Belgium): “Thankfully, Easter only lasts one weekend!”by FreshPlaza
Easter went well at Hoeve ‘t Bommesaarke, where Leo Henckens and his wife Carine Snijkers grow asparagus.
“We were incredibly busy. We’re glad it’s over—if it had lasted all week, I don’t know if we could have managed!” says the grower from Kinrooi.
“On Friday, demand was already very strong. I thought maybe people were trying to avoid the Saturday rush, so I expected things to calm down. But that wasn’t the case—Saturday was even more hectic. We also saw many new faces. Of course, our regular customers came, but we noticed a lot of newcomers this year. I don’t know if it’s because some colleagues have stopped, but since we didn’t do much advertising, it’s nice to see people still know how to find us.”
Henckens has been harvesting asparagus for a little over two weeks now. “We started on the 7th, which is much earlier than last year. We had to begin sooner than planned because we were caught off guard by the weather. It had been relatively cool, so we thought we still had time. Then suddenly it hit 25°C and everything took off. It was hectic since we didn’t have staff yet. They arrived several days late, so we had to handle things on our own for a while. Luckily, that’s sorted now and we’re back to full operation.”
Henckens is pleased with the quality.
“Last year we had many thin asparagus, especially toward the end of the season. But this year the quality is very good. After last season’s heavy rain, I expected worse, but the soil recovered well. We had a good growing summer, which gave us nice thick spears. That’s why the prices were good right from the start.”
“There was a slight dip last week. We thought prices would fall after Easter Monday, but they were actually higher than the Friday before. I wonder if some of my colleagues took Easter off? It felt like supply was lower, so prices held. As a result, we were able to keep up good sales and deliver decent volumes at solid prices. Today the market is softening a bit, but orders are still coming in, so things are going well.”
For more information:
Leo Henckens
Hoeve ‘t Bommesaarke
+32 494871791
carinesnijkers@telenet.be
www.aspergeskinrooi.be
The green asparagus harvest is progressing well in Granada Hoy
The green asparagus harvest is progressing well
The green asparagus harvest in Granada and Spain is progressing well. In at least eight provinces, including Granada, cooperatives and agricultural entities are operating at full capacity, and Spanish green asparagus is reaching both the national and international markets.
In Granada, a harvest of 35 million kilos is anticipated, an estimated increase of between 10 and 15% compared to the previous year. The province is consolidating its position as a national and European leader in this crop, with 6,500 hectares representing more than 65% of the total green asparagus area in Spain, contributing nearly 60% of national production.
Antonio Zamora, president of the Spanish Green Asparagus Interprofessional Association, emphasized that “this is the ideal time to consume asparagus grown in Spain.”
The Spanish Green Asparagus Interprofessional Association represents 96% of national production and 90% of sales. Its role is essential in channeling sector demands, fostering synergies, and optimizing sales, promoting a balanced value chain.
This organization includes the Granada Association of Cooperatives, the Agri-Food Cooperatives of Andalusia-Granada, UPA, COAG, ASAJA, the Guadalajara Green Asparagus Association, Aproa, Asociafruit, ES Andalucía, and the Regulatory Council of the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Huétor Tájar Asparagus.
This structure includes farmers, production companies, and marketing companies, many of them cooperatives, distributed throughout the Andalusian provinces of Granada, Malaga, Seville, Cadiz, Jaén, and Córdoba, as well as in Castilla-La Mancha, mainly in Guadalajara, and Extremadura.
A balanced asparagus market – Christian Befve: “We must start planning plantings for 2026 now”by FreshPlaza
This year, the asparagus season began with a general delay of 2 to 3 weeks. The reason? Unstable weather, with especially cool nights that have prevented the warming of the soil ridges and thus slowed asparagus growth. “The season started slowly across the country. The Southeast usually comes in a week to 15 days ahead of the Southwest, but this year it was the opposite. In fact, under these late-start conditions, the Southwest had the best campaign launch,” says Christian Befve, internationally recognized asparagus production expert.
“We nearly ran out of volume for Easter”
Despite delayed volumes, the market is fairly balanced, with good-quality asparagus:
“In terms of quality, there’s nothing to complain about. We’re also seeing larger calibers this year. As for prices, the initial lack of supply pushed them very high at the start of the season, before settling at a more acceptable level for both producers and consumers. The fact that we’re not overwhelmed with volumes helps keep prices decent. We nearly ran out of stock for Easter this year, and we’re still short now.”
A minor “Dutch offensive” last week with little impact
In this market setup—reasonable volumes, fair prices, and limited foreign competition—consumer demand remains strong:
“We’re facing very little European competition this year due to poor weather affecting all producer countries, which favors French asparagus demand. The week before Easter, high-quality asparagus from the Netherlands entered the market at €3.50/kg (delivered to Rungis).
The Dutch are known for selling their surplus at very low prices abroad to ease their local market when supply exceeds demand. Last year, this lasted about two weeks and heavily disrupted the market. But this year, that small offensive had little effect. Buyers now recognize how short-lived such operations are.”
Renewed interest in asparagus planting
With a slightly under-supplied but promising market, more producers are showing interest in growing asparagus or expanding their acreage:
“I’ve been saying for two years now that the difficult seasons are behind us and it’s time to replant. We’re seeing renewed momentum. We should be in a stable cycle for the next ten years.
Still, growers must plan their 2026 planting needs now and communicate them to nurseries that sow in April. For years, nurseries have had to throw away crowns. To avoid economic losses, they now only grow to order.
It’s crucial for producers to send their planting requests now to secure the varieties they want.”
For more information:
Christian Befve
Christian Befve & Co
christian@befve.com
www.befve.com
Publication date: Wed, April 23, 2025
© FreshPlaza.fr / Aurélie Pintat
Such a beautiful presentation of the Lebourg company with the harvest, packaging, sale and culinary preparation by Ultimedia
Switzerland: White asparagus cultivation has quadrupled in twenty years
In recent years, Swiss vegetable growers have significantly expanded asparagus cultivation, boosting the supply of locally produced crops. Over the past twenty years, the surface area dedicated to white asparagus has quadrupled, while green asparagus has tripled. Today, around 180 farms grow asparagus in Switzerland, mainly in Eastern Switzerland, followed by the Plateau and the French-speaking part of the country.
Despite this growth, domestic production still does not meet demand. In 2024, Switzerland imported nearly 3,600 tonnes of white asparagus and around 5,700 tonnes of green asparagus. Total consumption – both white and green – amounts to nearly 1 kilogram per person.
Significant growth potential remains untapped
Asparagus cultivation is demanding: it requires substantial investment, a long waiting period before the first harvest, and a short production window of just two good months per year. “Asparagus remains on the same plot for about ten years, but it can only be harvested starting in the third year,” explains Markus Waber, Deputy Director of the Swiss Vegetable Growers’ Association (UMS). This long-term type of cultivation therefore requires patience, discipline, and expertise.
The work is intensive: from building the characteristic ridges to laying plastic films and harvesting daily, every step requires commitment. Even after harvesting, plants must be properly maintained to stay healthy. “Before starting out, a farm must ask itself several questions: Am I truly interested in this crop? Do I have the right outlets? The infrastructure, land, and staff required?” adds Waber. “Swiss asparagus is highly appreciated by consumers. Unlike imports, it is available in limited quantities. There is real potential here: local production has its place on the market and is in high demand.”
Source : lid
