The marketing season of indigenous tomatoes and cucumbers started in a chaotic way this year, sums up Willi Sippel, director of the eponymous family exploitation located in the heart of the garlic region, near Nuremberg. “Prices were catastrophic from the start, mainly because of the very low rates on Dutch products. This is a real problem for us. Fortunately, the yields were satisfactory. »»
A start to the season marked by unstable sunshine
The first mini cucumbers of the season were collected from week 7 in the modern greenhouses of the Sippel family. “This year, we were able to plant in weeks 4 and 5, with a week in advance compared to last year. The sunshine was not bad, but the variations are more and more marked. Ideally, our cucumbers should receive between 400 and 500 joules/day, but we are increasingly recording peaks up to 900 joules/day, “explains Willi Sippel.
In addition to cucumbers, the company also cultivates tomatoes on an area of around 1.5 hectare: cluster tomatoes, cherries, cocktails and egg tomatoes. “Until 2023, we planted our tomatoes from week 2, but the outbreak of energy costs forced us to postpone plantations to week 4. To this is added the problem of the Jordanian virus, which forced us to abandon certain proven varieties for the benefit of resistant varieties, which we introduced last year. »»
In addition to long cucumbers and mini cucumbers, the company also cultivates peasant cucumbers, which are highly appreciated on the Nuremberg wholesale market. Up to 90 % of production is sold in retail via the Franken-Gemüse EG cooperative
SIPPEL takes a nuanced look at the recent conversion of its exploitation. “The first year was difficult. We have been faced with many problems: apical rot, burst or too small fruits. Overall, we have recorded a considerable loss, especially on cluster tomatoes – which represent approximately three -quarters of our production – with a yield down 15 to 20 % per square meter. To limit the risks, this year we have reduced the share of tomatoes in cluster this year for the benefit of other varieties. Last year, we tested several HR varieties, and one of them gave good results. So we planted it on a larger scale this season. »»
-
In total, the Sippel family produces tomatoes on approximately 1.5 ha. Tomato harvests generally go out until mid-November
Too low prices in the face of production costs
Beyond the agronomic challenges, the commercial situation has hardened in recent years, underlines Sippel. “The demand for German tomatoes remains strong and stable, but the prices no longer cover our production costs. Price war with cheap imports accentuates pressure. The Netherlands and Belgium no longer produce as cheap as ten years ago, but Spain remains a direct competitor. For the past two years, Turkey and Morocco have also won a lot of land. »»
The same phenomenon affects cucumbers: “For long cucumber, we face increased competition from the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Greece. For mini cucumbers, the market is a little more protected, because it is a high -end product. Despite everything, the commercial season of cucumbers last year was quite satisfactory, ”he concludes.
For more information:
Willi Sippel
Vegetable building Sippel GbR
Höfleser Hauptstraße 88
90427 Nuremberg
Such. : 0911/30700750
Fax : 0911/30700755
[email protected]
www.gemuesebau-sippel.de
