This year's Egyptian strawberry season began with the first deliveries in calendar week 47. "After the season started with high prices due to the absence of European produce, there is traditionally a slight saturation with a corresponding slight decline in orders. Prices will now trend noticeably downwards. Overall, we have enjoyed mostly good quality and availability so far. At the beginning of the import season, the Federal Office once again raised awareness of the issue of quality," Carsten Gogoll from Böhmer Frische GmbH continues. "The focus was on compliance with and control of the white portions in accordance with the classification."
"What is proving somewhat challenging, though, is the logistics, i.e. the limited availability of freight space and delays in import processing," reports Gogoll. Since this year, flights have no longer been operating from Cologne-Bonn Airport and instead, the company is increasingly dependent on Frankfurt-Hahn Airport, which has been reintegrated into the flight schedule; however, the timing and handling costs impact the commercial objectives. "The airport in Ostend is also regularly used for our arrivals. Incoming logistics is a particular issue at both Frankfurt-Hahn and Ostend, as it is usually not possible for us to accept partial loads," Gogoll continues. The company prefers to use Frankfurt Airport and the Perishable Center there.
Carsten Gogoll from Böhmer Frische GmbH shows Egyptian strawberries. During the winter season, the Mönchengladbach-based company focuses exclusively on importing and selling Egyptian and Greek strawberries.
Greek season starts late
Normally, the first early strawberries from Greek tunnel cultivation are already available from mid/late November, but due to the dry, hot summer, planting there has been delayed by two to three weeks. In addition, heavy rainfall at the end of November and beginning of December slowed down growth, which is why only limited quantities have been offered to date. "Due to limited availability, Greece was recently significantly more expensive than air freight from Egypt. Without air freight from Egypt, sufficient market supply would not be guaranteed until mid/end of January. However, during this period we are also in the understandable area of tension arising from discussions about the sustainability of air freight. From calendar weeks 1-2, we now expect increasing quantities from Greece, with sufficient quantities and good quality continuing to be available from Egypt," says Gogoll.
Protected strawberry cultivation in Egypt.
Both from Egypt and Greece, the two varieties Fortuna and Festival are mainly imported. From the latter country of origin, the San Andreas variety, among others, is also available as the season progresses. Greek strawberry production areas have been continuously expanded in recent years and Greece is now establishing itself as the most important alternative to Spain. Germany is the most important sales market, with the Eastern European market remaining stable.
First trials with single-layer 500g trays
Egyptian goods are usually available until the end of March. After the turn of the year, Egypt and Greece are in direct competition with goods of Spanish origin. Greek strawberries can usually be offered until the start of the German season, i.e. April-May. "From around the end of January, the confectioners will normally switch to 500g instead of 250g trays due to increasing availability from Spain. This has not been an issue so far with Egyptian goods, which are mainly loaded in flat trays. While there were already flat 400g trays for the premium sector from Egypt, this year we will offer our customers Egyptian strawberries in single-layer 500g trays for the first time," he concludes.
Photo credit: Böhmer Frische GmbH
For more information:
Carsten Gogoll
Böhmer Frische GmbH
Marie-Bernays-Ring 39
41199 Mönchengladbach
Phone: +49 (0) 21 66 / 96 81-741
[email protected]
www.boehmer-frische.de