With St John's Day approaching, the Belgian asparagus season is gradually drawing to a close, a season that has been satisfactory for grower Leo Henckens. "Sales haven't dropped off yet either. People are still keen to stock up and freeze asparagus so they can enjoy it after the season ends," says the grower of Hoeve 't Bommesaarke in Kinrooi, Flanders.
"This season has gone much better than last year," Leo notes. "That was a real disaster, but fortunately, we're seeing a 'normal' season again this year. I get the impression the asparagus is a bit thicker, too. Last year, the roots didn't fully empty because many stalks didn't grow. We did have a growing summer, though, so the soil stored those nutrients, and now they've come through nicely. In terms of volume, things are good, the quality is solid, and the thickness is satisfactory. You can't ask for more than that."
Many new faces
"Last year, we stopped on 8 June, because we were afraid of overharvesting. The stalks were that thin. I expected to see consequences this year, but that hasn't been the case. The weather helped too. Everyone complained about the dryness, but for asparagus, it really wasn't bad. Their roots grow deep enough to find water still. Sometimes you experience those extreme days, such as sudden 30-degree heat in May. That can be a challenge, but we were spared that this year. Just one weekend at the end of April or early May, that was a bit warmer, but it actually helped sales."
"We had a good run then and kept up the pace. That worked out well, so we've been able to continue smoothly and serve everyone properly. We also noticed a lot of new faces—people coming in and walking straight to the sorting table. We had to explain to them that asparagus could only be bought in the shop. Still, it's great to see more people discovering this wonderful product, so that's definitely a positive."
Keeping own prices
The grower is also content with this season's prices. "Overall, prices were slightly higher than last year, which makes sense given the rising production costs and wage indexation here in Belgium. People might be buying more consciously, but plenty are still happy to pay for a tasty asparagus. Also, the fact that some are watching their budgets means that the lower grades and varieties are selling well, too. There's something for everyone."
Towards the end of the season, prices have remained steady, although that matters less to Leo himself. The grower sets his price at the start and keeps it consistent throughout the season. "At the auction, prices are still holding up. Supply is also shrinking, especially for the thicker grades, which are priced very high. Plus, people tend to buy more asparagus toward the end of the season to freeze. That also supports the price."
"However, we don't adjust our prices for home sales based on that," he explains. "It means that early in the season, we might be a bit too cheap, in the middle a bit too expensive, and now a bit cheaper again. Only at the very end do we get the same price as at the auction. But we like the stability. If I ask €10 today and €12 tomorrow, it raises eyebrows. Customers like it when prices go down, but not when they go up. All in all, sales are still going well and we expect to wrap up the season around 20 July."
For more information:
Leo Henckens
Hoeve 't Bommesaarke
Kessenicherweg 27
3640 Kinrooi, Belgium
Tel: +32 494 87 17 91
[email protected]
www.aspergeskinrooi.be
