The market for celeriac can still be called good. "The market is in good balance," Pierre Sweep of the eponymous wholesaler from Zevenberg ascertains. "There is enough supply - and as the Netherlands we are head and shoulders above the rest of Europe - but the demand is also good and this is resulting in a good price level."
"The Eastern European production countries have had the necessary problems due to the weather conditions. This shows, as Eastern Europe forms a large sales market. Sometimes they are off the market for a week, but it is still early in the season and usually the export starts much later, so we are expecting enough demand," continues Pierre. "But the sales are widely supported. The United Kingdom, Germany and Scandinavia are all participating, which is causing the Germans to go through their own product."
"The quality of the tubers in storage is good. Where other winter vegetables switch to new harvest soon, this isn't the case with the tubers. All in all good prospects, if the price remains at a level that allows the demand to keep coming," says Pierre. He names the rules for certification and additional documents becoming stricter as a trend, including for East Block countries. The GRASP certificate is often a prerequisite for German supermarkets.
For more information:
A&P Sweep
De Langeweg 9a
4762 RA Zevenbergen
Tel: 0031 (0) 168-327750
Mob: 0031 (0) 6-53155323
pierre@sweep.nl
www.sweep.nl