There are plenty of opportunities on the carrot market this year. "There were already fewer carrots harvested, of course, and last autumn we also sold more carrots post harvest because demand was already good then due to the drought in Europe," says Kees Heegsma of the Lemmer-based vegetable business of the same name.
"Many carrots destined for the cold stores were already being sold post harvest for good money then. Post harvest prices then rose to between 20 and 25 cents and that made many growers decide not to take the quality risks of storage given rising energy prices. Growers who did store carrots did face rising costs and therefore expected more money. Now, growing carrots and storing them are two different things, but the people who have managed that well are demanding these kinds of prices. For the top end of the market, a price around 35 cents is now paid for direct trade and even more is demanded for forward delivery," Kees said.
"The Belgians and Germans as well as Dutch processors are reporting for field crop carrots. Germany has had their mouths full of regionality in recent years, but now that they don't have the supplies themselves, there is apparently a different view. Southern countries such as Spain, France and Portugal are also asking for crop product and, meanwhile, Eastern Europe is also starting to stir. For them, the price level so far has mostly been too high, but there is demand, so it's only a matter of time until those countries will start to come forward," the outdoor vegetable trader expects.
"So it's another very different year from last year. Every batch of carrots does have its own story and there will still be a shuffle there, but it looks a lot more positive than last year. Then it was a year full of misery with low prices and few opportunities. Now we have high prices and lots of opportunities. You generally keep that up a lot longer," says Kees.
For more information:
Kees Heegsma 
Heegsma
Straatweg 74
8531 PZ Lemmer
Tel.: +31(0)514 56 92 24
M: +31 (0)6 53 24 48 28
[email protected]
www.heegsmabv.nl