Banana market stable for the last few weeks

After a traditionally quieter summer period for banana sales, the market is currently stable. "If you look at the whole year, the banana market has been fairly constant. The busiest period for banana sales is always from the end of January to the end of May," says Arnoud Klootwijk from Wholesaler Ben van der Waal Zuidvruchten, which is based in Rotterdam. "The price for ripened bananas is currently around 15/16 Euro, although there are bananas being offered on the spot market for 12 Euro."

Ben van der Waal has his own ripening centre with twenty separate cells. He also ripens mangoes, kiwis, avocados and tomatoes here. Turbana has been the main banana brand in Rotterdam wholesale for years. Over the years many ripening businesses have failed, but Arnoud expects that the current number of suppliers will remain relatively stable. "New players will always pop up and set up new ripening businesses, but they will also have the task of filling up all their cells and emptying them again!"

Ben van der Waal's clientèle consists of wholesalers, greengrocers, market vendors, restaurants and supermarkets; all primarily within the Benelux area, but bananas are also being directly exported to the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. The ripening centre is certified according to the FSSC 22000, AEO and Skal, which means they can also supply organic bananas. "The market for organic bananas is pretty hot right now, especially in the countries surrounding us," says Arnoud.

For more information:
Ben van der Waal Zuidvruchten B.V.
Groothandelsmarkt 176
3044 HG Rotterdam
Tel: 010-4153812
Fax: 010-4379494
verkoop@benvdwaal.nl
www.benvdwaal.nl