Despite the wet weather, this year's carrot harvest in the Rhineland has got off to a fairly good start. "Spring was also very wet in our region, which contributed to difficult field conditions, especially for the early variety under fleece, which is sown in mid-April and harvested from mid-July. However, in terms of yield, we are generally satisfied with both the early and the storage carrots. We won't be bringing in a record harvest like in the 21/22 season, but I would rate this year's harvest as slightly above average compared to previous years," says Maximilian Coenen, a carrot grower based in Bedburg (North Rhine-Westphalia).
Insight into the carrot harvest.
Meanwhile, the storage of the main harvest is in full swing. Coenen: "We are currently experiencing good conditions: the fields are easy to drive on, with enough soil adhesion and cool outside temperatures. Some of the leaves are bad because we had occasional problems with root lice in the summer. But there are no problems that we can't fix." The storage of the carrots is expected to be completed in two to three weeks.
Field-fresh carrots
Supply and demand in balance
The Coenen family business has been at its current location in Bedburg since 1988, producing carrots on approximately 60 hectares. The field vegetables find their way into regional food retailers via fixed trading partners. "We are currently seeing reasonable demand in relation to yield," says Coenen. However, the second half of the season is crucial. "The early and mid-early market is relatively spread over fewer growers, so it is easier to make a better statement about available quantities and qualities. For the stored goods, there are simply more growers, each with their own storage capacities, some of whom have purchase contracts, but some also have free goods. As a result, the washing companies do not yet have an accurate overview of the quantities and, above all, the qualities in the cold stores of each grower."
Regional carrots in the focus of food retailers
A decisive factor here is also the storage quality of the carrots, which usually noticeably declines from April onwards. "Due to the excellent storage conditions, we expect good quality until the end of the storage season this year, i.e. until the end of April or beginning of May. It should also be noted that in recent years, the food retail industry has primarily relied on regional carrots, which benefits the position of the producer. Competition with imported goods is therefore extremely low during the domestic season. It is only from mid to late April that imports from the Mediterranean region start to exert more pressure on the market, which is why we are not currently seeking to extend the season," Coenen concludes.
Photo credit: Möhrenbetrieb Coenen
For more information:
Maximilian Coenen
Coenen carrot farm
Belmener Höfe 2
50181 Bedburg
Tel: +49 1578 972 41 77
[email protected]
https://www.instagram.com/moehren_coenen/