The harvest of Cévennes sweet onions ended approximately 10 days ago. Because of the heavy rainfall, the harvest was delayed, but less than expected. “We had a heatwave which allowed the onions to dry well, so we were able to start harvesting a little earlier than expected,” explains Carl Grandidier of Origine Cévennes.
Healthy onions
For now, the quality looks satisfactory. “We don’t have any particular problem this year. Of course, we will have to see how the onions keep in fridges before drawing any conclusion, but since the onions were healthy when placed in the fridge, they will probably also come out healthy.”
Higher volumes
This year, although the planted area did not increase significantly, Origine Cévennes reached a harvest of 2,500 tons of onions, which is 300 tons more than last year. This larger production is due to the bigger calibers of the onions.
Normal sales rhythm
Given the current rate of sales, the company should be able to supply its clients until late March/early April. “In terms of demand, we can compare this year with 2019. We sell about 75 tons/week. Last year, Covid had strongly boosted the sales, reaching even 116 tons per week. As for the current prices, they are not particularly high, but the level is maintained.”
Difficulty to obtain packaging
One of the main difficulties of the campaign lies in the packaging of the onions. “There is a strong shortage of raw material in the wood sector. This situation is causing prices to soar. We therefore struggle to find cardboard packaging. This could turn out to be the biggest challenge of the campaign.”
For more information:
Carl Grandidier
Origine Cévennes
Route de Valleraugue
30570 St-André-de-Majencoules
Phone: +33 4 67 82 50 64
Mobile: +33 6 79 29 49 11
carl@originecevennes.com
www.oignon-doux-des-cevennes.fr