“Weather conditions have never been so unfavorable for endive crops,” according to the Association of French Endive Producers (APEF). At the beginning of November 2023, two-thirds of the endive roots were still in the ground, but “since then, all producing regions have been abundantly watered, with cumulative rainfall locally exceeding 500 mm.” Today, thanks to the efforts and resources deployed by endive growers, 97% of the area planted has been uprooted. In Benelux, however, the situation is “far more complicated.”
Structural and cyclical causes
“This year, the endive supply will therefore be lower than the average of the last 3 years,” according to the association. The very wet harvesting conditions are impacting the endive production potential as they leave the sprouting room, and therefore the supply until the next season.
This drop in supply is due to cyclical causes. “Root refrigerators are not full due to lower yields per hectare. Large roots mean fewer plantings in trays and therefore fewer endive plants per growth cycle. The roots are ‘disturbed’ by the harvesting conditions and are not expressing their full potential at this stage.” There are also structural causes such as “the closure of certain endive production sites, labor shortages and excessively high energy costs, not to mention the competition from other, more remunerative and less demanding crops.” APEF is calling for a fair “revaluation” of endives, “proportional to the increase in fixed costs” for producers, in order to compensate for yield reductions.
But “the changes in the quality of refrigerated batches (and therefore yields per crate) could mean that production volumes will be better matched to the market demand in the weeks to come.”
“This drop in production must not overshadow the challenges facing endive growers”
“This drop in production must not overshadow the challenges facing endive growers in the short term,” according to APEF. The association urges to find alternatives to the withdrawal of key molecules, the renewal of generations, energy costs, labor availability, the sector's competitiveness in relation to other crops, climate change, and consumer expectations…
For more information:
Pierre Varlet (Director)
APEF
2, rue des Fleurs
62000 Arras
Phone: 03 21 07 89 89
[email protected]
endive.fr