The year 2012 was not an easy year for SICA, which is the largest producer organisation of fresh vegetables in France with 1500 members. Management indicates this week that the weather played an important role in this. The result is that the turnover figure stuck at 216.8 million Euro, of which 172.7 million (+1%) comes from the amount of exported vegetables (around 290,000 tonnes). Especially cauliflower and shallots had a clear decrease.
In general the trade dynamic has remained good, despite the crisis. Yet the storm clouds are gathering. First of all there is the building site of the shed in Saint-Pol. The start of construction depends on the verdict of the court. This verdict should be announced this spring. "If the answer is negative, the growers' future is over," according to Jean-François Jacob, SICA general secretary. It is also absolutely essential for the organisation to limit the energy costs (for tomatoes) and the logistics costs in the right manner.
