The market for early varieties of leeks began at the beginning of May following a winter that was unfavourable to winter vegetables. Supplies have decreased in a year, quality is good, but demand is not high enough for the prices to increase. Prices are below the 2010-2014 average, but have still increased compared to 2014. Rain at the start of May in the West slowed down the first harvests of early varieties, but the return of dry weather has allowed for an increase in volume.
The season started under good conditions for the crops, plantation is happening in all regions and is as expected for the season. Acreage has slightly decreased compared to 2014 (-2%, 5,060 hectares), but has seen an even larger decrease compared to the 2010-2014 average (-4%). Leeks are produced in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais (13% of national production), Lower Normandy and Brittany (together represent 28% of national production) down to Aquitaine (4% national production), the Centre and Pays-de-la-Loire (together represent 25% of national production) and the Rhone-Alpes (13% of national production), so weather conditions vary and growing seasons are staggered. Early varieties are grown between May and the end of July and need an ocean climate, so crops in the North and South East will not produce until September. Cold temperatures at dawn delayed vegetation and harvest was a few weeks late in Aquitaine, but supplies are now increasing at a regular pace.
In 2002 leeks were amongst the rare vegetables that sold more at export, but annual imports from Belgium, Spain and Holland have since been higher than the quantity exported from France. The trade deficit is seasonal as exported volume is higher than imported volume in the spring and early summer, but not in the autumn or winter. Production over the first few months of the season is low and will remain so until September. There is a 15% monthly decline with low points as of the first few months over this period. The spring decrease is so strong that volumes in the autumn, which are stable or increasing slightly, will not make up for it. In the last year production has decreased -2% reaching 161,920 tons. However, yield has still increased compared to the 2010-2014 average and compensates for the 4% decrease in acreage.