Unfair competition from other countries as well as constant pressure from the traders and large retailers. White garlic production is under threat in Lomagne.
Sydeproail, the Union defending white garlic had a bleak assessment of the year 2013 which was described as ''catastrophic'' by the the President Vincent Bégué on Thursday morning in the Tarn-et-Garonne. He says that, ''the bad weather conditions affected the harvest. The ''Café au lait'' (a garlic disease) affected many farms.
In addition, Spain, Frances biggest European competitor, was in over production.
This resulted in extravagant quantities of Spanish garlic arrived on the French market with a ridiculous price of 1.40 € the kilo. A price imposed by the traders because the Iberian garlic is of a very high quality.
China, which often consumes itself the 2 million tons that it produces, could also pose a potential threat. However, the Chinese only need to put 5 to 10% of their produce on the global market for the prices to collapse. Argentina is less of a competitor because their harvest is in the Autumn.''
With production prices much higher than in Spain, the farmers in Lomagne cannot compete. The only solution for them, which is arduous, would have to come from the large retailers and the traders.
''At the time being it is difficult (almost impossible) to promote our product to supermarkets and hypermarkets'' continues the President, ''two meetings took place last year in the Gers and only three retailers came to the meeting in Condom. Our members carried out surveys in the shops. The results are significant. Our shelf price of garlic can reach 18 € per kilo. A big margin from an unacceptable 16.60 €''. Vincent Bégué says ''we have to unite together to have more weight in the negotiations. Last year we demanded a 0.60 € rise, a goal that we can reach this year.'' The defence Union has decided to join Aniail (the National Inter-professional Garlic Association) to rally together all French production zones.
