The market share of imported cauliflower has stabilized somewhat in recent years. Only in 2016 did the total volumes drop under 70,000 tonnes, said the Federal Institute for Agriculture and Food (BLE).
France currently in focus
From October onwards, the import campaign will usually pick up gradually. Until the start of new domestic cauliflower harvest, the goods from southern Europe, primarily France and Italy, are important. A Bavarian wholesaler said: "This year we get our cauliflower mainly from France. The quality or availability of large calibers is outstanding, and we have also seen an upward trend since last week. Whether we buy our goods from France or Italy is dependent on the weather. OFten, Italy will be over represented in the fall or until the turn of the year, and from January onwards we will switch to France."
Expected early season opener of the domestic season
An interesting tendency is that the domestic season is starting earlier and earlier: In southern Germany, the first domestic cauliflowers are expected in May already. "The early start of the domestic season is of course bad for importers. But this development is clearly seen in other vegetables as well."