Asparagus hectare yield is starting to increase in Kavala, the prominent growing region for this vegetable in Greece: "The season did not start very well. The last few days were marked by zero hours of sunshine and low temperatures, which impeded plant growth. However, from the end of the first week of March, temperatures started to rise, and we have noted about 10-11 hours of sunshine daily. This warms the environment under nylon tunnels and favors asparagus growth. So, we expect that from the 10th or 11th of March, we will get much more production from the early plants, while later plantations will also enter production to further meet market demand," says Mr. Kostas Maragozis, agronomist of Greek fresh produce exporter A.C. Nespar.
According to Mr. Maragozis, market demand is high. "At this point in time, everyone is asking for asparagus. We are satisfied. The question is when German production will enter the market and how long the high prices will remain. Production costs have increased a lot." A.C. Nespar is also well aware of emerging market trends. "We cultivate white asparagus, which is more productive compared to green and by far the most sought-after type of asparagus. However, we have noted an increasing demand for green asparagus in Germany as well as in other markets," Mr. Maragozis comments.
As the agronomist of the Greek cooperative explains: "Green asparagus is more convenient to cook. Gourmet restaurants definitely prefer it. We have plans to include green asparagus in our portfolio. What poses a challenge in the cultivation of green asparagus is the limited workforce at the time the product needs it. Workers prefer to take jobs in kiwifruit cultivation, which is another product our cooperative offers."
"We also cultivate Hayward kiwifruit and are quite satisfied with the current season. We expect to have our stocks finished within April, and we are not concerned about any particular problems with our last fruits in the cooling chambers. Our members continue to expand Hayward cultivation, and we are also planning the expansion of our cooling capacity," Mr. Maragozis concludes.
For more information:
Kostas Maragozis
A.C. Nespar
Tel: +30 259 106 1779
Email: [email protected]
https://nespar.gr/
