This year, the harvest of Dutch open-ground vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, and iceberg lettuce started a week to ten days earlier than in other years. "The first cauliflower from the pots was very early, but now the first setting is already over, making cauliflower very scarce at the moment. I don't see that changing in the first ten days either," says Robert Vogel of AGF-Direct. "We ourselves have no product left for day trading, as everything goes into the programs, but the product price is between 2.30 and 2.50 euros, so that's quite decent. There is enough broccoli, but the Spanish product is still a bit of a nuisance because the seasons overlap. So, those prices are under a bit more pressure."
"Quality-wise, the season looks good, here in North Holland. There is some water in the paths, but that doesn't really affect the harder products like cauliflower and broccoli in terms of quality. Only the planting schedules might fall a bit behind, but we might still be able to catch up," Robert explains. "With iceberg lettuce, you see some weaker batches here and there. This is a somewhat more sensitive product under varying conditions and can, among other things, suffer from red discoloration more quickly. Honestly, I sometimes miss the understanding from customers, who seem to think that lettuce comes from a factory."
"The iceberg lettuce season started with very high prices of around 10-11 euros per box. In the meantime, those prices have dropped to a level between 6.50-7.50 euros. The supply is sufficient," continues the service provider from West-Frisian Zwaagdijk. "Chicory remains structurally high in price this season. This week, the chicory was auctioned on the Belgian clock for 3.30 euros. That level might drop a bit, but it will still be high in price. Moreover, the supply will remain limited for a while. Now the roots are being sown again, but given the wet conditions, we fear that the next batch of trouble is already on its way. But those are the risks we face..."
For more information:
Robert Vogel
AGF Direct
+31 (0)85 30 32 633
[email protected]
www.agfdirect.nl