The Spanish asparagus season starts mid-February. For some years now, Teboza has been cultivating green and white asparagus in the Andalusia region. Additionally, the asparagus company started production in South Africa.
A month before the first asparagus could be harvested in Spain, Will Teeuwen from Teboza talks about how the final preparations for the new season are being made. “We have been active in Spain for years already,” he starts. “Our asparagus is cultivated near Jerez de la Frontera, a municipality in the Spanish county of Cádiz, in the Andalusia region. After a trial phase of some years, we could harvest our first volumes in 2015. We mostly used this production to map the optimum harvest, transport and packing methods. It’s two years later, and we now cultivate asparagus on a 60-hectare area.”
The largest share of the Spanish production is their own cultivation. The remainder is produced by others, under guidance. Both white and green asparagus are cultivated in Spain. Will says the company mostly wants to dedicate itself to green strains, because of the increasing demand for green asparagus in Europe. “When we started cultivating asparagus there, we immediately drew the attention of cultivators from the area. Asparagus has been cultivated in Andalusia for many years already, but it is a fairly new product in the region in which we are active. We also injected new life into white asparagus,” he says. Teboza now works with about ten cultivators who cultivate for them. “But we are in control of everything. In the final eight weeks before the season starts, one of our employees can be found in Spain weekly, and during the three-month harvesting period someone is even present full-time to guide everything.”
Alternative for imported product
The asparagus cultivation in Spain can be compared to that of the Netherlands. Mainly the same strains, techniques and machines are used. “Only the climatological circumstances are different. The weather in Spain is currently perfect for the resting and treatment of the asparagus fields, because of the cold nights and sunny days.” With the Spanish cultivation, Teboza wants to be able to offer the European asparagus for longer periods as an alternative for asparagus from outside of Europe. European retailers preferably source in Europe. Only when there are no other options, will they go for import product. “With the Spanish supply, we can offer an alternative for South American asparagus. Moreover, we distinguish ourselves from these with flavour, flexibility and transport distance.”
A small share of the asparagus remains in Spain for the local market, but in principle everything is sent to the Netherlands after pre-sorting. The Netherlands, Belgian and Germany are the most important sales markets for Teboza. The asparagus company is also looking into export opportunities to Switzerland and Scandinavia. “We also hope to increase sales in Spain in coming years.” Will does not rule out a further expansion of the Spanish cultivation. This year, about 25 hectares will be planted, but he says the company will first wait to see how well the product is absorbed by the market this year.
Year-round production
According to Will, the Spanish asparagus are not in competition with the Dutch production. He explains that Dutch asparagus will always remain an exclusive and premium seasonal product. “To stay in development, however, we are looking for new opportunities. Asparagus can be produced year-round. We want to offer an alternative outside of the Dutch season.” Spanish asparagus are available from mid-February. Teboza is planning to also offer Spanish product in September, October and November. “For that, we are experimenting with solar energy for heating the water for the heated outdoor cultivation,” Will explains. “Production in December will then even be possible. Furthermore, we sowed the first seeds in South Africa for growing the plants for the remaining months of July, August and the beginning of September. We are in a trial phase here. It will therefore take a few years before we can start supplying proper volumes of South African asparagus. This way, we are getting ever closer to year-round production of our own asparagus.”
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Teboza
Will Teeuwen