«Late segment asparagus varieties are on the rise»
Stefan Pohl at expoSE 2023, where he officially introduced the new late variety, Mosalim
It took about 12 years from this late segment variety’s initial crossbreeding to its actual market introduction. The main goal was to develop a modern alternative to the long-recognized Backlim variety for the last phase of the asparagus season. «Mosalim retains its great tip closure even at higher temperatures,» begins Stefan. «It’s also excellently suited for mechanized harvesting and a longer harvesting program.»
«From the grower’s perspective, the variety has overall good foliage health and yields throughout harvesting. These parameters all benefit the variety. Mosalim should, thus, make a name for itself in various cultivation areas in the coming years,» the product manager says. «It should also gain a good market position. Backlim can, however, remain the standard variety in asparagus cultivation.»
Mosalim is grown in almost all the major asparagus-growing regions in Germany and some in the Netherlands. Last year saw the first plantings in that country, but it has been planted on a particularly large scale this year. «We realized there are many medium-late asparagus varieties, but only a few very late ones. That means there’s demand for good, high-yield late varieties everywhere, not just in Germany and the Netherlands,» says Stefan.
This year, the first of these asparagus will be planted in Austria and Switzerland, too
The early segment is not necessarily more lucrative, sales-wise either. «The season has been increasingly brought forward over the years, pushing up early asparagus cultivation costs. That’s mainly due to high labor and plastic costs. Because of rising minimum wages, this problem will only grow. And on the sales side, there’s a certain threshold regarding prices we cannot exceed. That makes it harder and harder for many growers to make any decent money for early crops.»
«But, that increases the interest in the late segment as many growers recognize that achieving good yields in the season’s last three to four weeks is worthwhile. Demand is admittedly relatively low during that time compared to the first part of the season, but so is supply. Available products are, thus, generally easier to sell. We want to offer growers a good variety with Mosalim, so they have high-quality products available until the very last day of the season,» Stefan continues.
Asparagus sector confident about the future
According to Pohl, the mood in the sector is currently quite positive. «In many areas, older fields are being rejuvenated to meet current standards. That’s true for the plant market, too, which is completely sold out. That’s, no doubt, a good sign.» However, the latest figures show that the number of asparagus farms is decreasing in certain regions. «We think the decisive factor is the sales structure. I’m sure those with a good, stable sales structure will keep prospering in the future,» he says.
«Others who don’t have that will have to give up, sooner or later. The rising minimum wage remains a constant challenge, though. Labor costs make up around 60% of asparagus cultivation costs. Still, I doubt we can say the entire sector is suffering. Innovative companies look for solutions, while others see problems. If we consider the acreage throughout Germany, it’s still one of the fastest-growing countries in Europe, even the world. In that respect, I don’t believe the current change is alarming for the sector at this point,» Stefan reckons.
Green asparagus keeps gaining ground
Alongside the still dominant white asparagus, its green cousin is undeniably gaining ground. «It currently has a market share of roughly 10-12%, and its upward trend continues. On the one hand, some companies specialize in green asparagus; on the other, some are still skeptical about this crop. Basically, however, green asparagus has become a staple for most cultivation companies.»
The Limgroup has been offering the Xenolim variety specifically for the green asparagus sector for several years now. «This variety’s main advantage is that it’s an anthocyanin-free plant, which means it doesn’t discolor. Growers can use that to stand out from imported trade, which gives them a clear competitive advantage regarding sales. Xenolim is a medium-late variety. Looking ahead, we aim to breed a late green asparagus to offer the entire spectrum,» Stefan concludes.
This article was previously published in Primeur May 2025. Click here for the link to the entire edition
For more information:
Stefan Pohl
Limgroup
Asparagus Product Manager
Tel: +49 (0)15 225 667 125
spohl@limgroup.eu
www.limgroup.eu
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