Spanish virus disrupting Dutch courgette market

For now the New Dehli-virus has mostly disappeared from the courgette cultivation, but the effects still show. Spain as well as the Netherlands are in full production and even Morocco is trying to pass on some more product to Europe.

Bad prices and a large supply on the courgette market. The reason is the New Delhi-virus that caused a lot of damage in the courgette market in fall and winter. "Due to this virus the total harvest had to be destroyed after which everyone planted again, this was never going to work," explains courgette grower Helmoed Meijer. "Normally a part of the Spanish acreage is being changed over now and only one part is in production this provides a better cross over. Now, everybody is on the market at the same time."

In addition to the Spanish production, the bigger Dutch acreage is also playing a part. " More growers are leasing space in the Westland. Growers are are bringing their businesses to an end and the local council has bought several companies which need to be let out. It is really cheap to get started in the courgette trade, you do not need a boiler or any heating. Everyone is already harvesting due to the beautiful weather." Meijer himself has been cutting since the 3rd week of February, which was around a month ago. "We had low prices before but it actually has not been any good for most of the year." The prices were very high during the virus in November and December but the Netherlands were not on the market at that time. But now, with this sunny weather, growers can cut 7 days a week.

Right now, Morocco is trying get rid of some of their products on the European market. It was announced earlier that the European Union accused them of violating the trade agreements by going under the set minimum price of 41 euros per 100 kilos. "If you go under this set price you get 30 cents per kilo which is 7 to 9 cents a piece. Lets hope that Spain will stop exporting due to the bad prices, cause things could look a lot different then. But they also know that the price will increase if they stop."

By May it will become so warm that Spain will stop growing courgettes. "But they have a different growing season as well and will be shovelling things around. They might plant a new harvest or the will stop completely. Who knows what could happen."