“I don’t see why The Greenery wouldn’t still be around in years“

CONSISTENT CONSUMPTION

Like most vegetables in 2020, cauliflower benefited from the COVID effect: “Purchases were up 12% in value in 2021 compared to 2019. In volume, they remained stable. At the beginning of this year, we are back to the same consumption levels as in 2019.” While cauliflower is produced yearround in Brittany, it is consumed more in winter, from November to March/April, than during the summer when it faces stiffer competition such as tomatoes or other summer vegetables.

GERMANY: MAJOR CAULIFLOWER EXPORT AREA

Prince de Bretagne markets its cauliflowers in France, but also abroad. “We sell to professionals, individuals, and wholesalers on markets such as Rungis. We also export to other European countries: Germany, England, and Eastern Europe. Germany is our main export area. Cabbage as a whole is better integrated into the culinary culture there than in France. In Germany, it is a product that is very sensitive to price and promotion, much more so than in Italy, France, or Spain. This gives rise to some concerns about the current situation, which is causing significant price increases in energy, raw materials, pesticides, fuel, and therefore production costs. We wonder what repercussions this will have on the cost price for producers. They will not be able to absorb all these price increases. Like the French market, the Germans appreciate large-sized cauliflower, whereas the Anglo-Saxon market is looking for medium-sized cauliflower.

A FIELD CROP THAT REQUIRES LITTLE INPUT AND TREATMENTS

The entire production of Prince de Bretagne cauliflower is done in open fields, all year round. This is a significant advantage at a time when the cost of producing vegetables in greenhouses is increasing exponentially due to the rising cost of energy. “Thanks to our expertise and the varieties we have planted, which are perfectly adapted to our terroir in Brittany, our crops require little input in terms of phytosanitary products. But we are, just like other crops, more or less impacted by the rising costs of raw materials and fuel. This also affects delivery times, although not to a huge extent. Although the cooperative does not feel the direct effects of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict on its commercial activities for the moment, the geopolitical situation remains a source of vigilance and concern.

A VEGETABLE THAT REQUIRES A HIGH LEVEL OF COMMERCIAL REACTIVITY

If cauliflower production seems less demanding than others, its great sensitivity to climatic variations can make its commercialization difficult: “ Currently, for example, we have mild temperatures, which strongly accelerates the growth of cauliflowers, giving us a 15 day advance on our production. It is then up to us to regulate our outlets accordingly. This exercise requires a great reactivity on a commercial level”