According to statistics from the French ministry of Agriculture the area of courgettes from open ground cultivation has again decreased this year. The number of HA decreased by 14% compared to 2011. This is 2,493 HA. The national production (117,116 tons) is 3% less this year than in 2011.
This decrease is partly the result of crop rotation in the south-east of the country. In the north, where production is for the industry, the area was considerably decreased by 134 HA (-41%/2011). This decrease is the same as the decrease in production of 42% (6,459 tons). Many growers have started to produce other products, In the south-west of France the area and the yield remained stable with 407 HA and a production of courgettes of 11,200 tons.
The glasshouse area increases by 2% (459 HA) this year, however. This causes an increase in production in the south-east. In total 74,352 tons of courgettes are expected in the south-east of France.