Spring frosts have become increasingly unpredictable in recent years, so Bondev has decided to work to protect orchards during these particularly sensitive periods. While the company specializes in stone fruit imports and exports, it has also developed a complementary winter business selling anti-frost candles. "In April 2021, we witnessed a 'black frost', with most of the harvest lost despite the use of anti-frost technologies," explains Laurie Suhr, director of Bondev. "We remember 2020, 2021, and 2022 as three consecutive years of severe frosts. In 2023 and 2024, the orchards were hardly affected at all, but what will happen in 2025?"
An increasingly unpredictable risk of frost
The reason why frost is so feared by growers is that it only takes a temperature of -2.5°C on open flowers and -1°C on the small fruit stage to cause irreversible damage. "In France, stone fruit trees flower from mid-February to mid-March. The trees are at the small fruit stage until the end of April. If temperatures reach -3°C or -1°C, over a long period in the middle of the night or early morning, the damage is irreversible. The limit is therefore fragile and unpredictable. What is certain is that the increase in average temperatures due to global warming is not reducing the risk of frost at all." Another phenomenon that is increasing the risk for orchards is the increasingly early flowering. "Over the last twenty years, we have observed that the risk period in March and April has increased."
P71 paraffin candles: "higher calorific value than many competing products"
In response to this situation, Bondev, in partnership with Bogdany Petrol Ltd and its Plastoflex© brand, offers a complete range of frost protection candles. "Our Plastoflex© candles provide excellent protection in vineyards and orchards during spring frosts. The heat from the candles warms the cold air and prevents frost damage to flowers and berries, thus avoiding crop loss. We offer growers and winegrowers the most effective anti-frost candles on the market today. Our range includes P71: paraffin-based candles, Green with vegetable wax, and Eco with animal wax (recovered from local slaughterhouses). Paraffin - as a traditional raw material - ensures a longer burning time (between 10 and 12 hours), while the advantage of vegetable wax candles lies in the reduction in the quantity of smoke, particularly in protected, densely populated or tourist areas. Beyond this, several studies carried out by our clients have shown that our P71 paraffin candles have a higher calorific value than many competing products."
Anti-frost candles: increasing the effectiveness of anti-frost towers
With the increased risk of frost in recent years, the installation of anti-frost towers and wind turbines in vineyards and orchards to combat frost has accelerated sharply. "These installations stir the air and are sometimes accompanied by heating systems to warm the air. To ensure that these installations are fully effective, we have developed 60-liter paraffin-based barrels (the Green version also exists), which we offer as a complement to the anti-frost towers. Thanks to these barrels (4 to 5 per hectare), in the event of very low temperatures, the anti-frost system is optimal and makes it possible to combat sub-zero temperatures."
Bondev sells its anti-frost candles in 6-liter buckets and 60-liter barrels. "We have also created refills in 3L and 6L formats so that growers and winegrowers can refill their empty buckets at any time during cold spells."
Helping growers with effective, easy-to-use products
In order to provide a practical solution that is optimal for growers, Bondev is committed to the continuous improvement of its products. "The strength of our partnership lies in the fact that we improve our products every year through discussions with clients. The producers have always been very supportive. For example, we have sped up the lighting process by adding small paraffin-soaked straw bundles to the top of our candles. We had the lids modified so that the buckets could be opened more quickly, even after initial use. Thanks to our manufacturing plant, we can offer these products all year round on a made-to-order basis. There are no volume limits. We can store pallets in France so that we can be more reactive when it comes to delivery in the spring. We know that these are very stressful and difficult times for arboriculturists and winegrowers in particular, so we need to help them with effective, easy-to-use products.
Photo credits: Bondev
For more information:
Laurie Suhr
Bondev
contact@bondev.fr
plastoflex71.hu
bondev.fr