Spain is vital in supplying Europe with citrus and leafy and greenhouse vegetables, especially in the winter. And despite all the challenges and DANA, imports from Spain are running smoothly, says Christiaan van Ravenswaaij. He is the third generation in the Dutch family business S.C. van Ravenswaaij.
Oranges and mandarins: quality trumps quantity
The recent storms in Spain mostly spared that country's orange crop. "Prices were high after the storm due to supply problems," says Christiaan, who sources oranges from Spain, Morocco, and later Egypt. The mandarins, mainly from Valencia, score high on quality. "Our customers want flavor and attractive appearance."
Christiaan is satisfied with Escrig Gourmet's varieties. In the new year, the focus shifts to premium varieties like Tango and Orri. Also, the demand for mandarins is rising, partly because of the healthier snack trend. "Companies and parents choose these more often," Christiaan notes. Morocco remains a strong player here.
The family business C.S. van Ravenswaaij combines wholesale and own stores
Lemons and grapefruit: a stable market
Lemons are must-haves, with a constant demand regardless of price. "What counts is juice quality and a thin skin." Spanish lemons, especially brands such as Fru Dino, meet this standard very well. Grapefruit complements the supply but is not considered a growth market. "You quickly run out of that," says van Ravenswaaij.
Spanish vegetables: efficient and competitive
S.C. van Ravenswaaij also imports many kinds of greenhouse vegetables, including bell peppers, tomatoes, and iceberg lettuce. "Dutch tomatoes are wonderful but often pricier." Christiaan gets 90% of his bell peppers from Spain, given the limited lit cultivation supply in the Netherlands, and they import iceberg lettuce, a stable product, year-round from there.
Cooperation and resilience
The storms brought challenges, but the company's Spanish partners remained reliable. "Communication was excellent," Christian points out, "and we never ran out of product." Despite the year-round Dutch crop, Spain also remains important for their soft fruit, such as strawberries, which Christiaan says come from Huelva.
With a broad, high-quality supply, Spain remains an indispensable link in the Dutch fresh market. "Were it not for Spain, we'd lose out considerably," Christiaan concludes.
S.C. van Ravenswaaij
De Doelen 2
3905 TA Veenendaal
Tel: +31 0318-546470
[email protected]
www.ravenswaaij.nl