"Good sales opportunities on Spanish market due to unfamiliar redcurrants"

Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries: Spain is full of them. Redcurrants, on the other hand, are still an unknown fruit variety for many Spanish people. "Contrary to the other soft fruit, the redcurrants require a cold winter. That makes it impossible to grow redcurrants in Spain. So there is plenty of market potential for the export of Dutch redcurrants to Spain," says Eefje de Wit-Bloed of Bloedbessen from Asch in the Betuwe. For the third time in a row, the berry producer is at Fruit Attraction in Madrid to get potential buyers interested in the redcurrants.

"Redcurrants aren't equally popular in all countries, but there is often a bit of local cultivation, and people are aware of the product. Spain is an exception to that. Some redcurrants are also grown in Portugal, but a large part of the Portuguese harvest goes to France. That makes Spain an interesting market for us, where we now have quite a big customer base, right down to the south of Spain. We regularly hear from Dutch people going on holiday in Spain and spotting our berries," Eefje says. "Logistics is the biggest challenge, of course. Sending ten boxes is not cost-effective, so the condition is that at least one pallet is ordered."

Eefje says there is a good Dutch harvest of redcurrants. "A nice volume of good quality, comparable to the past two years. Other production countries also had a good harvest, and those countries also sold quite well in the past summer season. The Dutch acreage is growing steadily, particularly with the true specialists. The past years, other fruit growers also jumped into the cultivation of redcurrants, but they switched back again. Growing redcurrants is really a whole different ballgame. Now supply is increasing with demand, resulting in a healthy market situation."

"Two years ago, the average prices were at a low level, and last year at a high level. Trade-wise, we hope we'll be in between this year," Eefje concludes. She looks forward to participating in Fruit Attraction in Madrid (Hall 10-G07). "The past years, this trade show went satisfactorily. The show is growing, but it isn't too big yet. Many Spanish companies first go to their direct network, and then they come to us. At a trade show like Fruit Logistica, very few companies have time to make that second round."

For more information:

Eefje De Wit - Bloed
Bloedbessen
Achterstraat 3a
4115 RP Asch
Tel: +31(0)345-501711
eefje@bloedbessen.nl
www.bloedbessen.nl