The Belgian asparagus season annually starts on the third Thursday of April. Nevertheless the product has been available from the second half of February already. The growers after all can advance the cultivation under glass or plastic tunnels by heating or otherwise by covering the asparagus beds with plastic foil. The plastic is black on one side and is used to warm the soil. As soon as it becomes too hot they turn the foil onto the white side. These techniques do not increase the annual production of the asparagus plant, but make the local quality asparagus arrive at the market earlier. In addition the soil does not dry out as quickly and the asparagus retain their pure white colour, which is important for the quality of the vegetable. Supply only really starts during the month of April and the outside temperature is a deciding factor. The present good weather promises a good supply of open ground asparagus for the coming weeks. The real peaks in the production, however, can only be expected from the beginning of May, because then the nightly temperatures normally increase as well. A high average twenty four hour temperature period is necessary for the production to peak.
The supply of asparagus on the Mechelse Veilingen quadrupled over a period of 10 years from almost 400,000 kgs to more than 1.7 million kgs. The small asparagus grower, who grew asparagus for additional income, was replaced by family companies looking for GlobalGap certification, various forms of small packings and quality selections. In Klein Brabant the asparagus cultivation declined and the Zuiderkempen and Limburg became the most important supply areas. In 2012 an increase in area of 10% is anticipated.
Asparagus were added to the Flandria hallmark in 1998. Despite the very strict norms 60% of the asparagus which is delivered to Mechelse Veilingen meet the Flandria quality. This is the result of the continuous efforts of the member growers.A white Flandria asparagus must be absolutely white (no blue discolouring), must be sufficiently long, have a nice undamaged head and be straight. Also the client must find a colour system on the packing, referring to the assortment. The blue colour refers to the thickest assortment, red to the thick, yellow to average and green to the normal format. Asparagus, which are either too thin or too thick cannot be supplied under the Flandria hallmark.
Also in the area of packing the asparagus went through a large number of changes. Everybody knows the traditional bundle of asparagus of 500 grs. In the meantime almost 40% of asparagus is also sold loose per kg. which is mainly popular with bulk consumers and hotels and restaurants. Also 500 grs.of asparagus on a dish under foil has increased by 50%. Information about the product in a small information leaflet is given to the customer with amongst others the GDA values included with the packing. The traditional bundle of asparagus with white cotton thread is still offered for about 10% and especially in the most important middle assortment. Peeled and airtight packed asparagus can also be ordered from the auction house since last year. Also the green asparagus are becoming more important. The supply increased by 236% between 2008 and 2010.
The Belgian asparagus season is only 2 months long. Officially the season ends on 24 June, the festival of St.Jan. Then the grower must stop the cultivation to enable the plant to grow during the summer months. The root must recover strength to be able to produce quality asparagus next year. This cycle repeats itself about every six years. After that the grower also harvest asparagus after the close of the season, sometimes till September or October. Then the plant will be uprooted to make space for new young plants.
www.mechelseveilingen.be
www.mechelseveilingen.be