the shortage of seeds and the rise in prices are putting the sector in difficulty
It is on our kitchen and dining tables throughout the year and obviously for the Christmas holidays: Dijon mustard remains a staple in our gastronomy. But for how long? The industry is currently going through big difficulties. First of all, mustard seed shortage with big supply problems for Côte-d’Orian manufacturers. Shortage first in Canada, the main country managed by the company, Queen of Dijon, installed since 1840 in the Dijon region and since 1997 in Fleurey-sur-Ouche. “It was the availability of the seed itself that was greatly affected by the dome of heat that there was last summer in the plains of western Canada, suddenly the production was very poor” explains Luc Vandermaesen. As a result, the third French mustard producer has to face the shortage. “We are not able to obtain deliveries from contracts which therefore cannot be honored.” The leader estimates the shortage at 50%, direct result of the plant idling. And even if Reine de Dijon has also been using local mustard seed production for a few years, “up to 35% of its needs”, specifies the manager, “climatic hazards such as the frost in Burgundy have not made it possible to compensate for the Canadian shortage.”
Soaring prices for the rest of the components
In addition to these supply problems, the general surge in prices for all the other components necessary for the mustard makers. An observation made by Marc Désarménien, the general manager of Fallot in Beaune. “The price of capsules will increase by 42% on January 1st, for the glass it is 12% more at the start of the year, as for Burgundy wine it will definitely double at the start of the year”, laments the leader. “It is a double penalty, at the same time not being able to deliver the quantities ordered by our customers but it is also the strong increase which will result from it for our products.” An increase that the head of the Beaune mustard factory has already quantified_, “between 9 to 16% increase for our prices_, we do not have the choice” he said regretfully.
Rising prices for consumers
At the end of the chain, it means that consumers have to pay more their Dijon mustards. A few cents more, but in this shop specializing in regional products, right in the city center, these customers seem rather understanding. “I’m ready to pay a little more in any case, we have to turn local production and we are all aware of the sector’s supply difficulties, especially if it’s done locally!”
The solution: more local producers?
But is it possible to produce more mustard seeds in our region? It is not so simple on paper answers Fabrice Genin, mustard producer for fifteen years in Marsannay-le-Bois, “The production has been divided by three in four years with us, the reason is already that the State has chosen to eliminate phytosanitary products, without giving us other solutions to manage the presence of rodents, combined with a changing climate, suddenly the attractiveness for the sector is much lower. “
But the president of the association of mustard producers in Burgundy remains hopeful, “the sector is hanging on and it has been organized, for example for three years, on an Agrosup breeder with whom we are trying to find less productive varieties but which tolerate insects better in order to have a more stable production. selection it is necessary to leave time for them to be put in place. “ In any case, in 2022, the pot of Dijon mustard will cost more, but mustard remains a reasonable expense, “per year, the average budget is four euros “ reminds the CEO of Queen of Dijon, who like all other mustard makers, is hoping 2023 will be a better year.
→ Find the File + INFO devoted to the difficulties of the mustard industry in Côte-d’Or this Friday, December 17, 2021 at 6:46 am and 8:16 am on the airwaves of France Bleu Bourgogne