The onion market in France experienced a severe shortage last year, but the current campaign is taking a very different turn. “We can say that we had quite a good harvest this year, both in terms of quality and calibers. This was to be expected, given the shortage we experienced during the last campaign,” reports Régis Le Saint of the company Le Vili.
Fewer imports expected
The volumes of French onions being higher this year, imports may therefore be lower. “Usually, we switch to imported onions in April. But this year, we will try to supply our clients longer with our French stock. We shouldn’t have any trouble selling first-price French onions all year. As for the top range, we developed our refrigerated stocks,and we also set up crops in the south of France in order to obtain French yellow onions as early as possible and to keep them as long as possible. Consumers are increasingly looking for French onions, without however compromising on quality. So we will have to educate all actors of the sector as well, in order to reduce stocks on the shelves and have a French product over a longer period. As for the pink onions, despite an opening on the Indian market early in the campaign, we should also be able to provide our clients all year,” explains Régis.
Part of the Le Vili range
Fair prices that can evolve quickly
As far as prices are concerned, they are relatively fair for this time of year, given the yield, “at 150 euros [165.4 USD] on average per ton at the moment. But the situation can change rapidly, because there is still an unknown element, which is the pressure from neighboring countries on the French market. Depending on their stocks, they will try or not to draw from ours. We already know that the Polish stocks will get very low in February/March. Some French producers harvested late and were impacted by the autumn rains. The Netherlands was much more affected. In France, we are experiencing a normal year while others are having a rather difficult year.”
The Le Vili team
About Le Vili
Based in Brittany, SAS Le Vili produces, packages and sells garlic, shallots, yellow, red and Roscoff onions, as well as older vegetables. The company offers an organic and a conventional range produced on two farms certified HEV. A certification which, according to Régis, reflects perfectly “the environmental values of our farms where rational agriculture is a priority.”
For more information:
Régis Le Saint
SAS Le Vili
Phone: +33 (0)2.98.61.56.56
regis.lesaint@levili.com
http://www.levili.com