"More organic than conventional cherry tomatoes sold in Sweden"

The demand for organic greenhouse vegetables from Spain continues to experience a huge growth. "We are on a rising tide and something you think it's going to turn, but it seems to only grow," describes commercial director Richard Soepenberg of Frunet. "As Frunet we experienced a large growth last year and this has continued into the first two months of the year. We represent around 70 hectares of organic vegetables. Organic cherry tomatoes are our main product and we have them available all year round, but we more than doubled our volume of cucumbers and courgettes this year and even tripled the peppers. Organics are booming."

At the moment the day temperature in Malaga, where Frunet is based, is averaging around 20 degrees. "Normally there is a chance of quality problems in January and February due to the rainfall, but this year, despite having some cold weather, we had little rain or moisture and this has lead to good quality. Due to the heat at the start, the season started later than usual. Everything got going a lot later and this has lead to much higher prices for the growers. They have had a good season so far. The Ehec drama was an eye opener and a 'rebirth' for us. We made a clear choice after this to only work with quality growers and this has worked out well. We want to define ourselves in the market with quality."

Richard has a clear vision about the price formation of the organic vegetables compared to conventional. "Organics have added value, are healthier and deserve a higher price. Organic products shouldn't be a budget product. I do think organic product should be sold separately on shelves. Those packagings are what make organics expensive. You often see conventional products 'naked' in the shops and it should be the other way around. It's about the product, not the packaging."

Richard expects larger volumes on the market over the next few weeks. "Depending on the price, this could cause concerns about a lower price." Frunet focuses on all West European markets, in which Scandinavia is the largest growing market. "More organic cherry tomatoes are sold in Sweden than conventional ones. Sweden is also the absolute leader. The local Spanish market for organic products remains very small. Other countries show more growth. The tide is not turning," concludes the commercial director, satisfied.

For more information:
Frunet Bio
Richard Soepenberg
Tel: + 34 952 52 75 10
Mob: + 34 661 684 861
Fax.: + 34 952 52 75 11
Ctra. De Algarrobo Km. 2,5
29750 - Algarrobo. MALAGA
Richard@frunet.net
www.frunet.net