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Sival “THE” Green and white asparagus fair
The Must-Attend Event for the Green and White Asparagus Sector
The Sival trade fair in Angers is the go-to event for the fruit and vegetable sector, particularly for green and white asparagus.
You can attend conferences on horticulture and viticulture, as well as market research presentations.
The event is covered by the magazine Asparagus World, managed by Guy Dubon and Christian Befve from Befve & Co.
Through printed magazines, newsletters, and web pages, Asparagus World highlights all techniques and innovations related to the cultivation of green and white asparagus: from planting, fertilization, irrigation, maintenance, protection, harvest, packaging, storage, marketing, consumption, to culinary recipes.
The magazine also tracks market growth of fresh, preserved, and frozen green and white asparagus, and explores the vegetation and harvest of white, green, and purple spears, from a global perspective. It serves as a hub connecting suppliers, producers, and distributors.
But above all, the fair brings together exhibitors showcasing:
- Varieties of white or green asparagus (in seeds or crowns), such as: Angier, Anjou Plants, Beeren, Bejo, Enza Zaden, Limgroup, Nunhems, Planasa, Vilmorin
Equipment and supplies for green, white, and purple asparagus, related to:
- Cultivation, irrigation, fertilization, and maintenance, represented by: Agrivaloire, Corhyze, Hermeler, Huet2M, Innovack, Medinbio, Naturagriff, Naïo, Netafim, Oxybiotop, Rivulis, Sobac, Terrial, Tradecorp
- Harvest equipment, including electric machines to assist in harvesting green and white asparagus: Christiaens Agro, Engels
- Plastic mulching films, represented by: Daïos, Diatex, Dynaplast, Europlastic, Oerlemann, Reyenvas, Solplast, as well as Gauget hoops
- Fresh asparagus packing (green and white): Besnard, Filpack, Neubauer, Strauss
- Storage and packaging of white, green, and purple asparagus: Cavare, Filbing, Janny, Palbox, Tout pour le fruit, l’Univers de l’emballage
The event is also a networking hub for green and white asparagus producers, with dinner meetings organized on-site. It’s a great opportunity for French, Belgian, Spanish, Swiss asparagus growers and more to share experience and advice in a warm, friendly atmosphere.
French industry unites to tackle asparagus harvest crisis
French industry unites to tackle asparagus harvest crisis
Asparagus harvest – The 2022 campaign ended sadly for the French sector, as previously reported in an article on Freshplaza. Yet with 20% fewer volumes than the previous year, the issue wasn’t overproduction. Asparagus—especially mid- and late-season—simply struggled to sell, despite good quality. This situation plunged the entire sector into crisis, leading to a sudden halt in production one to two weeks early, and tons of product were destroyed.
In response to this alarming situation, Christian Befve, internationally renowned asparagus expert and director of Befve & Co, gathered all the sector’s players on July 1st in Bordeaux to analyze the situation and find collective solutions. “It’s an idea I’ve had for several years now. But following this campaign, it became an absolute necessity. The next campaign simply cannot unfold like the one we just ended. We all need to come together: independent producers, cooperatives, producer associations, marketers, and wholesalers from all production areas, whether in green, white, purple asparagus or in conventional, HVE, organic, or biodynamic farming. We must analyze the problem and develop a shared vision to bring the sector out of this crisis. Because this is a national problem, not just a matter of production.”
A Highly Anticipated Meeting
The meeting was well received by sector stakeholders: “Some producers drove round trips from Alsace and Lorraine just to attend. Around sixty people participated, even though COVID unfortunately reduced that number at the last minute. I felt genuine positive energy in the room. To my pleasant surprise, while I expected a tense atmosphere at the start, everyone arrived in a constructive mindset. That proves that everyone is ready to work together to ensure the next campaign goes better.”
Analyzing the Asparagus Harvest Situation
While declining consumption affects the entire fruit and vegetable sector, other factors also explain this disappointing asparagus season: “Every year, the French campaign hits a difficult period when Belgian, German, and Dutch asparagus enter the market. This year, that window lasted a full month instead of a week. The quality of these European asparagus was excellent—yet prices were especially low, around €1.40 at Rungis versus the usual €2 from exporters, while French asparagus sold at €4.50.”
Another major issue raised was the sector’s lack of organization, especially poor anticipation in communication. “We realize communication is neglected when the first asparagus arrives. But retailers need three weeks to organize shelf placement for a product. We really need to anticipate and amplify communication, with supermarkets and with consumers.”
Creation of a European Volume Forecasting Observatory
After gathering the French sector, Christian Befve now aims to improve communication across Europe. Hence the idea to launch a European asparagus volume forecasting observatory: “The idea received unanimous support. This is exactly what we need to anticipate problems during the season. The observatory would report expected productivity percentages for the next four weeks in each country, every Monday. For example: 100% when productivity reaches 300 kg/ha/day, 30% around 100 kg/ha/day. The data would come from representative growers in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and Greece. If we had had this tool this year, we could have anticipated the crisis without being forced to halt and destroy tons of product.”
Following this drop in harvest, Befve has already reached out to observers and plans to launch the observatory next season. He is currently looking for development partners and financial backers to bring the tool to life.
Increasing Communication with Retailers
To boost communication with marketers and the public, Christian Befve also proposed creating an information bulletin to detail production specifics per country: “It could include info like start/end dates of harvests, labor costs—€13/hour in France, €12 in Germany (starting next year), €7 in Spain; health standards, number of kilometers traveled by asparagus to measure CO₂ emissions, and even the number of approved pesticides per country. For example: France can use 20 products, Italy 22, Spain 25, Germany 35, and the USA 38. Access to this kind of data could help explain price differences between origins.”
The Beginning of Something Bigger?
This meeting proved to be more than a first step—a true glimmer of hope for better sector cohesion: “The feedback has been very positive. Some companies already held internal meetings to address the crisis. I’ve even been contacted to organize a similar event at European level, during the Asparagus Fair in Karlsruhe, Germany, organized by VSSE, from November 23–24. This clearly shows there’s a real need for coordination in the sector.”
For more information:
Christian Befve
Christian Befve & Co
christian@befve.com
www.befve.com
Publication date: Thursday, August 18, 2022
Author: Aurélie Pintat
© FreshPlaza.fr
Leaf beetle, enemy of white or green asparagus
Criocère ennemi de l’asperge
Crioceris, enemy of asparagus, also known as the asparagus beetle, is a harmful insect that attacks asparagus. It is mainly known as a pest of white or green asparagus, although it can also affect other plants in the Liliaceae family, such as celery and leek.
Crioceris is the enemy of asparagus
The asparagus enemy Crioceris is a small brown insect, measuring about 5 mm long. It has wings and can fly, allowing it to move easily from one plant to another. Its larva, the next stage after the egg, is white, worm-like, and measures approximately 12 mm in length.
Crioceris mainly feeds on plant sap, which can result in reduced asparagus growth and, in severe cases, plant death. This pest primarily attacks stems and leaves, but may also affect roots and bulbs.
To fight Crioceris, it’s recommended to regularly monitor the plants and detect the insect early. If Crioceris is found, it can be eliminated using chemical treatments or biological methods, such as introducing natural predators or using pheromone traps. It’s also important to keep plants healthy through proper fertilization and watering, which strengthens their resistance to insect attacks.
When does Crioceris reproduce?
Crioceris reproduces mainly during the warm months of the year. In Europe, this usually means from May to September. However, the exact reproduction period can vary depending on region and weather. Females lay their eggs in the stems, and larvae emerge a few days later.
VSSE Karlsruhe Asparagus and Strawberry Fair, over 400 exhibitors
Salon Asperge et Fraise VSSE Karlsruhe
The Annual German Event
The VSSE Asparagus and Strawberry Fair in Karlsruhe is a yearly event held in Germany that celebrates two of the country’s favorite seasonal crops. The asparagus fair generally takes place in May, when both asparagus and strawberries are at their peak.
Two beloved crops
Organized by the Association of Vegetable and Fruit Producers in the Karlsruhe region, the event aims to promote the consumption of asparagus and strawberries to a wide audience. The fair attracts thousands of visitors each year and offers a wide range of activities for all ages, including tastings, culinary demonstrations, cooking competitions, plant and flower exhibitions, and much more.
Showcasing local growers
The fair also shines a spotlight on local fruit and vegetable producers, who present their products and share their expertise with the public. It’s a great opportunity for food enthusiasts to discover new varieties and innovative ways to prepare these seasonal crops.
In addition to celebrating asparagus and strawberries, the Karlsruhe fair also showcases other local products, such as cheeses, wines, and craft beers. It’s a chance for visitors to experience the culinary richness of the Karlsruhe region and support its local producers.
In summary
The VSSE Karlsruhe Fair is an exciting event that celebrates two iconic crops while promoting local producers and their know-how. It’s the perfect occasion for vegetable lovers to explore new varieties, learn new recipes, and support local agriculture in the Karlsruhe area.
White asparagus, the observatory
White and green asparagus:
the harvest observatory.
Why is it important to know the volumes of white and green asparagus before they arrive?
According to insights gathered by Asparagus World, Eurofresh, and Christian Befve, is there an advantage to knowing the quantities of white and green asparagus available before they reach the market?
Setting up a forecasting observatory for white and green asparagus volumes in Europe could help fill this gap. The problem lies in the lack of information at the grower level—producers often have no visibility on the market, and thus cannot properly manage their harvest. Additionally, there is little foresight regarding market packaging and logistics.
Objective: harvest forecasting
White and green asparagus producers in Europe need a forward-looking vision for the next 4 weeks, in order to reduce pressure on the asparagus market.
A strategy tailored to asparagus
It is essential to provide volume estimates for the next four weeks, with an increasing margin of error the further the projection goes.
Only producers who are representative of their region can participate in the survey. Estimates will be based on the average data from respondents in each region. Initially, only participating producers will have access to the weekly survey results.
The observations will focus on white and green asparagus production across Europe.
Asparagus production observatory calendar:
2023: The test year : All weekly information on the asparagus harvest is collected on Friday and published the same evening.
End of season: A debriefing session is held to summarize the results and discuss improvements.
For anyone interested in participating and receiving information on asparagus harvest forecasting, please register with christian@befve.com.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions.
Robots for harvesting asparagus
Cultivation Technology Is Evolving
New asparagus harvesting robots seen in Karlsrhue.
It is indeed possible to use robots to harvest asparagus. These robots typically use cameras and sensors to locate the asparagus and mechanical arms to harvest them. Depending on the model, they can harvest up to 20,000 asparagus spears per day—far more than a human worker could manage.
Cultivation technology: still limited use
However, it’s important to note that the use of robots for asparagus harvesting is still fairly limited, and most farms still rely on human labor for this task. This is partly due to the high cost of purchasing and maintaining the robots, as well as the difficulty of adapting them to different types of terrain and growing conditions.
There are several new technologies that can be used to grow asparagus more efficiently and productively. Here are a few examples:
- Line sowing: Instead of planting asparagus seeds manually, some farms use line-sowing machines for faster and more precise planting.
- Drip irrigation: This system delivers water and nutrients directly to the plant roots, helping reduce water loss and improving asparagus growth.
- Mulch-covered beds: Using a layer of mulch before planting helps protect plant roots from heat and drought, which can improve growth.
- Greenhouses: Some farms grow asparagus in greenhouses, offering protection from bad weather and better control over growing conditions to boost yield.
- Precision agriculture: This method uses cultivation technologies like soil mapping, field sensors, and drones to collect detailed data on plant growth conditions and adjust practices accordingly.
