Dutch lollo rossa, lollo bionda, romana lettuce and little gem will be fully available at The Greenery once again starting next week. There is already a limited harvest from the greenhouses. For instance at Jos Sweep in Prinsenbeek. Together with Greenery sellers Dick Bakker and Barry Vermulm the grower discusses the coming season.
Barry Vermulm and Dick Bakker, two members of the open ground sales team of The Greenery. The trusted team is ready for the new season.
Easy switch
Another week and a half and Jos Sweep will be able to harvest the first little gem of the season from his cultivation company in Prinsenbeek. He has been harvesting from his unheated greenhouse (5000 metres) for a while. The first lettuce was harvested from here a week an a half ago: lollo rossa, lollo bionda and romana lettuce. "We want to already be on the market when the open ground season starts here. This is how we try to make the switch easier and to move straight on from this," says Sweep. "This usually goes well, not so much this year." Due to the mild weather there is already a considerable amount of supply on the market: the seasons are running over into each other. The situation last year was very different, the market was empty due to the long winter weather and the prices were high. "But last year the rest of the season wasn't as good. There could be a shortage in June from the current situation, when there is less Spanish supply, " expects Barry Vermulm, salesman at The Greenery.
Grower Jos Sweep with the little gem. In a week and a half this too will be harvested.
Top left: lollo rossa sleeved. The sleeve not only protects the product against consumers on the shelves, but is also extra protection during the transport.
Russia and the Middle East
The main markets for Fresh Fantasy are Russia and the Middle East. "There is specific demand for the brand Fresh Fantasy from the Middle East," says salesman Dick Bakker, "But Russia also believes quality is important. They need to, due to the transport time." The lettuce products are important for catering and food service in Russia. It is also devleoping from a luxury to a commodity product. Bakker: "It certainly isn't a dumping market. There are markets where sales are based on price, but Russia and the Middle East choose quality."
The harvest from the greenhouses has been under way for a week and a half.
Little gem
The lettuce area at The Greenery is reasonably stable, as is the demand. The most striking increase is the little gem, which was started in the Netherlands two years ago. Before this the product used to come from Spain all year round. "It is a tasty lettuce, sweet and crunchy," says Sweep. "It feels good in the mouth. It's good without being processed and this is quite exceptionalfor a leafy crop." The little gem is especially popular abroad. "Holland is still a little behind," says Bakker, "Although what is growing here also goes to Jumbo." The home use of (kluitsla?) is growing in the Netherlands, but the sale of loose lettuce is not. Fresh Fantasy mainly goes to cutting businesses. "Bags of lettuce are a very Dutch product. It's an easy choice," says Vermulm. There are also still chances for lettuce in the food service. "Various types of lettuce are on the rise, but it is often still a byproduct in Dutch catering. There are still possibilities there."