This year's season officially began with the arrival of the first Papenburg cucumbers in calendar week 10. "We could have started as early as February 27, but we waited until March 2," says Detlev Köster, managing director of Johann Köster GmbH & Co. KG, which supplies the regionally grown fruit vegetables mainly to owner-managed food retail stores, as well as to the catering and food service industry in Bremen, Bremerhaven, and the surrounding area in Lower Saxony. "Compared to last year, we are starting the season about two weeks later, which is probably due to the low light levels in January and February. However, we expect a normal supply of quantities for now."
For the company, based in Lilienthal near Bremen, the Papenburg cucumber is the first seasonal highlight and first harbinger of spring. More than 90 percent of the sales volume is accounted for by regular cucumbers, with mini cucumbers and pots of herbs from the nearby gardening settlement also being offered. Köster: "We are just at the beginning, and a comprehensive supply of German cucumbers is therefore not yet available. So, in parallel to the regional goods, we continue to offer Belgian and Dutch loads. In terms of price, the Papenburg cucumbers are almost at the same level as the Dutch." Despite continued high production costs, the prices of German cucumbers tend to be around the same level as last year, the wholesaler explains.
For several years, Johann Köster GmbH & Co. KG has been operating as a regional supplier of the quality brand San Lucar. The seasonal product range includes citrus fruits, stone and soft fruits, grapes, exotics, and a wide variety of tomatoes.
Furthermore, Köster sees a high level of willingness on the customer side to offer regional German cucumbers. "As soon as German cucumbers arrive on the market, the customers we serve switch accordingly, which in turn indicates that regionality is valued."
During the cold season, the fruit and vegetables are mainly sourced from Spain, Köster continues. "As is well known, there was a lot of rain in Spain in the fall, which had a noticeable effect on the supply situation in the fruit and vegetable category. In particular, there were sometimes very few peppers available at high prices, and this trend is still continuing at the moment."
© Johann Köster GmbH & Co. KG
In addition to regional cucumbers, the first heated asparagus from the region is also expected in the second week of March.
Photo credit: Johann Köster GmbH & Co KG
For more information:
Detlev Köster
Johann Köster GmbH & Co. KG
Querreihe 1
Lilienthal 28865
Tel: +49 04792 93400
Tel: +49 04792 934050
order@johann-koester.de
https://johann-koester.de/