France asparagus

The recent cold weather has delayed production of various seasonal products in France, according to Le Républicain Lorrain, leading growers to fear peaks of production once warmer conditions arrive.

In the north of the country, production of leeks, carrots, onions and salads have all been delayed, said Ann-Cécile Delavallade of interprofessional organisation Interfel.

Varied prices have been seen as a result, with leeks becoming more expensive, while carrots have suffered from low prices due to competition from the less affected Les Landes region, as well as refrigerated produce from Belgium.

Asparagus has been delayed by 10-15 days thanks to cold winds from the north, according to Pierre Geist of the chamber of agriculture from the Bas-Rhin department.

The issue is not that the cold may affect quality or yields, but that every region will start supplying at the same time, as soon as temperatures rise again.

For Interfel, the delayed start for many spring products is not a major issue, since the cold weather has also caused a stifling of demand for such items.