Blackcurrant harvest began a few days ago. One of the two main varieties is the noir de Bourgogne. This is an early variety grown in Burgundy and naturally has a weak yield, yet it's aroma makes it very attractive to liquor producers to make crème de cassis.
The weather was not favourable for blackcurrants again this year, ''the last good year was back in 2009'' says Fabrice Ecalle, Head of small fruit at the Chamber of Agriculture in the Côte-d’Or. He says that this year they will be one third below a normal harvest, and this is an optimistic estimation.
Ludovic Bonnardot farms 50 ha of blackcurrants and says that ''we are at least -50%, even -60%, compared to an average yield.'' He goes on to say that for a successful harvest they need 3 to 4 tons/ha, and they are currently at 1.5 tons/ha. However his second harvest should have a normal yield.
As well as the weather, blackcurrant producers are faced with financial problems because ''cooperatives have negotiated 5 year price contracts with the processors. For us to come out on top, the prices would need to be increased for the years when there is no harvest.''
These difficulties make the future of noir de Bourgogne blackcurrants questionable. The amount of producers has already dropped by 40% between 2000-2010 in Burgundy (according to Agrosupdijon).
