Fennel production in Belgium is on the rise, according to Flanders' Agricultural Marketing Board, VLAM.
LAVA, the group comprising the six biggest auctions in the country, has seen an increase in volumes of fennel marketed under the Flandria quality label in recent years.
“Whereas last year we had 27ha under fennel, the figure this year has risen to between 30 and 35ha,' said Maarten Verhaegen, deputy supervisor for sales at the Malines auction. 'We are expecting this season’s supply to be around 1.7m heads, with 85 per cent being grown out of doors.'
The fennel season in Flanders lasts from May to December, with peak supplies available between July and September.
According to the auctions, a weekly supply of 80,000-100,000 heads is guaranteed for weeks 36-39.
