Mélina Facchin (on site), edited by Juliette Moreau Alvarez 06:43, September 25, 2022
After the historic drought of this summer, many crops are at their worst, and in Alsace cabbage has not been spared.
Some have been lost and the survivors are smaller than usual.
Not enough to cause a shortage, but the price of sauerkraut could well increase significantly.
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This summer's drought has had a visible impact on the sauerkraut cabbages in Alsace: they are much smaller than usual.
So even if we will still find this traditional dish on our tables this winter, professionals estimate their losses between 25 and 30% compared to a normal year.
Although there will probably be no shortage of sauerkraut next season, it will certainly cost the consumer a little more.
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"Cabbage doesn't like temperatures above 30 degrees at all"
In the middle of his six hectares of cabbage in Krautergersheim in the Bas-Rhin, Florent Ades, producer, can only see the effects of this summer's drought.
"In a normal year, we turn around with heads [of cabbage] of seven to eight kilos," he explains, stripping the leaves of one of his freshly picked vegetables.
"There, this year, we are around six kilos, even four kilos for the smallest heads."
Blame it on the drought and high heat this summer.
"Cabbage does not like temperatures above 30 degrees at all and we have often exceeded them this summer", confirms the farmer.
"So even with the irrigation, we manage to keep him alive. But in the end, he is still a little smaller."
About 25% loss
The harvest does not end until the end of November-beginning of December.
It is therefore a little early to say, but Sébastien Muller, manager of the Lepic sauerkraut factory, which processes vegetables from around fifteen producers, is counting on around 25% losses compared to last year.
"The cabbages are still a decent size, but we are indeed close to the limit," he admits.
The sauerkraut still wants to be reassuring: "Don't panic! We will be able to make Alsace IGP sauerkraut, no shortage for the moment", he smiles.
"We have to wait for the final result but it is sure that we will not have the harvest of the century."
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With his charges and his energy bills currently exploding, like everyone else, Sébastien Muller and the other sauerkraut makers in the region will probably have no choice: they will certainly have to pass on these price increases to the consumer.
Sauerkraut may therefore cost a little more this winter, around 40 centimes extra per kilo.