At Tolpoort Vegetables, the Dutch broccoli season concluded last week, while the cooperative still expects to supply cauliflower for another two weeks. "However, the volumes are minimal, as most retailers have already transitioned to Spanish product contracts," says Danny Duijs.
According to Danny, this season saw relatively stable prices for both broccoli and cauliflower. "Only the final weeks were less favorable. The price of cauliflower, in particular, has faced pressure over the past month due to high field yields in France and sufficient supply from Spain." Despite the challenges posed by a wet spring, which complicated cauliflower planting, quality remained high. "We delivered excellent cauliflower with hardly any complaints," Danny notes.
Max van Ooijen, responsible for broccoli sales, highlighted that planting issues were more pronounced for this crop. "We also experienced higher aphid pressure than in previous years, with infestations reaching the broccoli florets. This persistence required us to cull some of the product. Additionally, growers faced wildlife damage in both broccoli and cauliflower fields this year," Max explains.
From a marketing perspective, Max observed increasing demand for Dutch broccoli in Spain during the summer months. "The Spanish heat drives demand for broccoli from other regions, allowing us to export significant quantities there. However, this trend is less pronounced for cauliflower. Meanwhile, the UK market has remained limited due to sufficient local supply," he says.
Max also emphasized the mounting challenges for growers, particularly with the discontinuation of products like Movento. "The future for broccoli growers is becoming uncertain. Combined with significant cost increases for land and labor, supermarkets must understand that prices need to rise," Max asserts.
Meanwhile, Tolpoort Vegetables has already launched its Spanish cauliflower season. "Our grower, Laan, cultivates cauliflower on a large scale near Seville. The outlook is promising. Although some rain has fallen in the growing area, it hasn't been excessive, and the cauliflower is developing well. This ensures a stable and reliable supply throughout the winter months," Danny concludes.
For more information:
Tollgate Vegetables
Tolweg 7
1616 AT Hoogkarspel
Tel. +31 (0)228 565781
[email protected]
www.tolpoort.com