The wet spring had a considerable impact on planting outdoor vegetables this year. The flooded fields meant that in many cases planting could not be done or could be done later, which in turn affected the following weeks. "But despite the lower supply, we have not seen amazing prices in iceberg lettuce this year, for example," says Jordi van den Bosch of Freeland.
Jordi van den Bosch, right a flooded field of iceberg lettuce
"All in all, it is a special iceberg lettuce season; when supply is low, you don't often see prices stay this low. Currently, prices are still at a level between 5 and 5.50 euros per box from the grower. Meanwhile, fortunately, weather conditions are better and product quality is super. We still have Dutch ice lettuce available throughout September, so hopefully this month will still provide a good season finale for both the growers and us."
"We have also had periods of tighter availability in cauliflower and broccoli. Now cauliflower always remains quite a volatile product. Those sales really go through hollow and stagnant periods, but overall the market has gone through well. Broccoli supply has also been volatile, but what is leaving now, is nice produce. You do notice that growers are more reserved about giving a guaranteed unit weight. The leek sales are a bit slow this summer. In leek growing, the trip pressure is very high and that causes customers to be a bit reserved again."
With the organic branch Freeland Organics, Jordi also hopes to make the necessary steps in the organic segment this year. "Our ambition is to be able to supply more and more year-round with organic products and thus not be dependent on imports. This will take time, because it is a completely different branch than the conventional segment, in which there are a lot of fixed lines and, moreover, very different numbers are handled," Jordi says.
"The season with red organic onions from Egypt has not gone without merit. The market for yellow organic onions was more difficult, because many buyers continued with Dutch onions for longer than initially expected," Jordi says. "As for common onions, prices of the new crop are at a low level, even from the field. You notice that customers are afraid to buy the onions expensively and then you are quickly overpriced as a trading office. But first the onions have to be off the field, then we can really make forecasts."
For more information:
Jordi van den Bosch
Freeland / / Freeland Organics
Nijbracht 126
7821 CE Emmen
Tel: +31 591 670570
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.freeland.nl
www.freelandorganics.nl