The acreage of agricultural land used in the Netherlands to cultivate asparagus has increased by nearly 60 percent since 2000. The acreage increased by 1230 hectares to over 3300 hectares in 2014. The asparagus cultivation saw the biggest increase in the provinces of North Brabant and Limburg. In North Limburg, the asparagus cultivation increased by an impressive 66 percent, Statistics Netherlands announced today.
Asparagus cultivations has highs and lows
The cultivation of asparagus in the Netherlands shows an erratic evolution. The cultivation reached a high in the 1950s, encouraged by the Dutch agriculture policy. At its zenith in 1963, the asparagus acreage reached 5100 hectares. Thereafter, the acreage rapidly decreased to 2300 hectares in 1980, to increase again to 2800 hectares in 1987. A new low was reached in 2000, when the asparagus acreage went down to 2100 hectares. Afterwards, another consistent upward trend followed, with an acreage of 3300 hectares in 2014.
The total asparagus acreage has changed significantly, but the total asparagus yield keeps showing an upward trend. Thanks to improved cultivation methods and the introduction of more productive varieties, the yield per hectare has gradually more than tripled since the 1950s.
North Limburg as centre of asparagus cultivation
In the nineteenth century, asparagus cultivation mainly took place on the sandy soil behind the dunes of North and South Holland, and on the sandy soil around Bergen op Zoom, the so-called Brabant Wall. Of all these cultivation regions, only the Brabant Wall remains. North Limburg soon became the most important asparagus region, with Grubbenvorst as a centre. The sandy soil there is ideal for the cultivation, cheap labour is available in abundance, and the Ruhr area is a large nearby market. In 1980, 82 percent of the asparagus acreage can be found in North Limburg. In 2014, that's still 61 percent.
North Limburg as centre of asparagus cultivation
In the nineteenth century, asparagus cultivation mainly took place on the sandy soil behind the dunes of North and South Holland, and on the sandy soil around Bergen op Zoom, the so-called Brabant Wall. Of all these cultivation regions, only the Brabant Wall remains. North Limburg soon became the most important asparagus region, with Grubbenvorst as a centre. The sandy soil there is ideal for the cultivation, cheap labour is available in abundance, and the Ruhr area is a large nearby market. In 1980, 82 percent of the asparagus acreage can be found in North Limburg. In 2014, that's still 61 percent.
North Brabant is the second asparagus province, with a 34 percent share in 2014. Particularly in the sandy soil in North Brabant, cultivation has grown in recent years. In 2014, the western Peel area accounts for 16 percent of the total acreage, central North Brabant for 6 percent. Asparagus cultivation is also occurring more in other provinces, particularly on sandy soil.
Asparagus increasingly early thanks to new cultivation methods
Traditionally, the asparagus season starts on the second Thursday of April, ending on the feast of St John. That day, June 24, the birthday of John the Baptist is celebrated. Thanks to new cultivation methods, such as heated cultivation, Dutch asparagus comes to market increasingly early. With heated cultivation, asparagus is covered with a special plastic foil with a black and a white side. With the black side up, heat from the sun is absorbed, and with the white side up, sunlight can be reflected if the temperature increases too fast.
Another innovation is soil heating, pumping warm water through hoses underneath the asparagus beds. To bring asparagus cultivation forward even more, large plastic tunnels are also mounted over the asparagus beds, which are held up by having air blown underneath them. The air in these wind tunnels is heated by the sun during the day. The heated air ensures that the beds don't get too cold during the night, so the soil heating doesn't have to work too hard.
Finally, growing asparagus in heated greenhouses also leads to a significantly earlier asparagus season. These days, the first Dutch asparagus goes on sale around mid-March already.
Export of asparagus mainly within Europe
The Netherlands mainly exports asparagus to countries within Europe. In 2013, 17.5 million kilos of asparagus (Dutch and imported) crossed the border. This is 12 percent less than the year before. Nearly 60 percent of all exported asparagus ends up in Germany and Belgium.
Finally, growing asparagus in heated greenhouses also leads to a significantly earlier asparagus season. These days, the first Dutch asparagus goes on sale around mid-March already.
Export of asparagus mainly within Europe
The Netherlands mainly exports asparagus to countries within Europe. In 2013, 17.5 million kilos of asparagus (Dutch and imported) crossed the border. This is 12 percent less than the year before. Nearly 60 percent of all exported asparagus ends up in Germany and Belgium.
In 2014, over a fifth of the asparagus produced in the Netherlands is exported. That's more than 3.8 million kilos. Of the exported Dutch asparagus, about half goes to Germany, a quarter to France and a tenth to Belgium.
Import of asparagus mainly from Peru and Mexico
A small share of the asparagus sold in the Netherlands, comes from abroad. In 2013, 13 million kilos of asparagus was imported. This is 10 percent less than in 2012. Peru is the most important asparagus supplier with over 10 million kilos, 12 percent less than a year before. Mexico supplied over 1 million kilo in 2013, a 23 percent increase compared to a year before. Almost 90 percent of all imported asparagus comes from America.
Import of asparagus mainly from Peru and Mexico
A small share of the asparagus sold in the Netherlands, comes from abroad. In 2013, 13 million kilos of asparagus was imported. This is 10 percent less than in 2012. Peru is the most important asparagus supplier with over 10 million kilos, 12 percent less than a year before. Mexico supplied over 1 million kilo in 2013, a 23 percent increase compared to a year before. Almost 90 percent of all imported asparagus comes from America.