2024 could be a good year for Vitfrisch eG, which has sites in Soest and Neckarsulm. "The yields and quality of the brassicas were consistently good, with correspondingly pleasing calibres (7s to 10s). The rainfall in the summer was mostly beneficial for the growth of our cabbage crops," said managing director Christian Pielken in an interview at the company's site in Soest. At the beginning of December, they switched to products from Portugal and Italy for savoy cabbage, and for pointed cabbage, there was also a smooth transition to Portuguese produce. In addition, the last pumpkins of this year's season were delivered shortly before Christmas.
On the other hand, summer crops suffered more from the wet conditions, Pielken continues. "In particular, there were increased levels of rejects in the case of outdoor-grown lettuces and cauliflowers. Surprisingly, there was less disease pressure on cauliflowers, while we were confronted with bacterial infections and lice in the later lettuce batches. However, there were no serious bottlenecks in the lettuce category either." The last outdoor-grown lettuces were delivered at the end of October, around a week earlier than usual.
Christian Pielken is operations manager at the Soest site.
Stable price level characterizes cabbage market
In addition to red and white cabbage, soup vegetables and celeriac are among the best-selling items during the Christmas season. The latter item is expected to be available from regional cultivation until the end of February or early March. Pielken: "Celeriac has been an important winter crop for us for many years, and we offer it in both organic and conventional quality. Demand for red and white cabbage traditionally increases gradually from the beginning of December, with white cabbage sales having been quite stable so far, while red cabbage sales increase quite typically from calendar week 50. The agreed programs for both products have so far gone according to plan." Meanwhile, the price level has also been satisfactory, and the Vitfrisch team expects prices to remain firm in January.
In addition to conventional vegetables, vitfrisch eG also cultivates and distributes organic vegetables. "We have specialized in the three high-volume items of courgettes, celeriac, and pumpkins, which have become very well established in recent years." According to Pielken, it is rather difficult to expand the range of organic products. "The restriction of approved pesticides, coupled with increasing weather extremes, is already presenting us with major challenges for some conventional crops. The challenge is therefore to produce consistent quantities and qualities with fewer pesticides and the like. In this respect, we are on the right track with the hydroponic salads produced by the Graaff family in Vettweiß, which are now in their second year of production. The sales figures also indicate that this product is becoming increasingly popular."
The façade of the Soest site (formerly OGA Soest).
Advertising for the vegetable sector
Despite numerous challenges, the management of vitfrisch eG is looking confidently toward the near future. Efforts are also being made to attract young talent at all levels of the supply chain. "Unfortunately, it is not getting any easier to attract the younger generation to vegetable growing, particularly at the producer level. It's not yet a cause for concern, but we still have to look to the future and promote our industry." From a sales perspective, it is also important to set the course for the future. "Since 1 January 2025, Vitfrisch GmbH, which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of vitfrisch Gemüse Vertrieb e.G., operates purely as a sales and trading company. This reorganization aims to clarify the different divisions and purposes within our corporate structure."
For more information:
Christian Pielken
vitfrisch Gemüse-Vertrieb eG
Location Soest
Sassendorfer Weg 19
D-59494 Soest
Tel: +49 02921-893 110
Fax: +49 02921-893 260
Mail: [email protected]
www.vitfrisch.de