The Dutch fruiting vegetable season got off to a generally strong start with good pricing, but in recent weeks, increasing volumes have put pressure on prices across almost all products. Ruud den Boer, commercial director of grower cooperative Oxin Growers, takes stock.
"The first cucumbers from the unlit crops already came into production in week 1. For cucumber growers, the start was very promising, with strong prices. However, in recent weeks, we've seen prices come under significant pressure. In particular, the increased supply from the Spanish spring crop is placing considerable downward pressure on prices. We saw a similar trend last year, although the market eventually recovered well," says Ruud. "Our aubergine grower also enjoyed a strong start, with similarly favourable prices. The supply peak for aubergines traditionally comes a bit earlier, and now we're seeing the market slowly picking up again."
© Telerscoöperatie Oxin Growers U.A.
Ruud den Boer
"In week 9, the first green peppers from our growers were harvested, and since early April, all colours have been in production. Due to lower quality Spanish peppers, demand for Dutch products was high. This resulted in a strong start with solid price development. Initially, the price of green peppers came under pressure, as they were harvested ahead of the other colours. This penalised green pepper growers. From week 16 onwards, we're seeing a production peak. This has directly affected prices, with significant drops—this week, for example, the price of red peppers has declined notably."
"The start of the tomato season has been much better than last year, with prices ranging from reasonable to good for this time of year. However, we are seeing that tomato volumes are lagging behind previous seasons. This is mainly due to the use of resistant varieties, which require a different cultivation approach. In the case of cherry tomatoes in particular, we are experiencing significant pressure from foreign supplies, especially from Morocco. Although those imports are not free from quality issues, the volume still presents a challenge for our growers. We expect continued volume pressure on tomatoes in the coming weeks."
Ruud concludes that the fruiting vegetable season has started on a positive note. "The production peak is expected to last two or three more weeks, after which supply should stabilise again."
For more information:
Oxin Growers
+31 (0)180 203 203
info@oxin-growers.nl
www.oxin-growers.nl