"According to forecasts drawn up on March 1st, 2025, French cauliflower production is estimated at 172,000 tons for the 2024-2025 marketing year, which is 19,800 tons less than in 2023-2024. Production was particularly low in January and February due to the weather. In February 2025, prices were 34% higher than in 2024 and 4% higher than the average price for 2020-2024 for the same month, against a backdrop of reduced supply," according to the Agreste economic outlook.
A typical drop in production in January-February
The national cauliflower area for the 2024-2025 season is expected to be down by 3% from last year, at 13,113 hectares, and 7% below the 2019-2023 average.
National cauliflower production, estimated at 172,000 tons for the 2024-2025 campaign, would be down by 10% from last year and 22% below the five-year average. However, production in Basse-Normandie is expected to rise by 10% this year, thanks to yields that are close to average after a poor 2023-2024 season.
After early production in November, cauliflower supplies dropped in December as the festive season approached. In January, the supply was sharply reduced due to losses caused by alternating wet and cold spells, as well as a varietal dip at the end of the month. During February, cauliflower production picked up again with the rise in temperatures and the arrival of new varieties but remained limited and well below last year's exceptional February production.
Prices fluctuate according to demand
December started well, but prices then dropped in line with demand, which is traditionally less dynamic around the festive season. On average, over the month as a whole, prices were down by 54% from last year and 13% below the five-year average. In January, against a backdrop of exceptionally low supply, even lower than in January 2024, prices started to rise again on very firm pricing bases. In February, more restrained domestic consumption during the winter holidays caused prices to drop towards the end of the month.
Source: agreste.agriculture.gouv.fr