The top fruit season has been difficult so far. "The expectations were, from auctions and growers in particular, too high, and this optimism was misplaced," says Floor van Os of the firm J.C. van Os from Benschop. "We see a good domestic demand on the apple market for the good parties of Elstar. Germany hasn't taken much Elstar so far, but if some space is created on the market there, this will be positive for the Elstar."
"I can assume that the pears have now been moved by the exporters. If there are still free cells, there will only be opportunities if they are very good. For the lesser quality it will become more difficult. The small sizes in particular are struggling due to the large supply. You do see that the difference in quality is being paid better," concludes Floor. "The season is calm for us. The pears have been placed and we have started on the last cells with the Elstar."
Van Os manages the company J.C. van Os with three brothers and four cousins, which consists of a cultivation company with an area of 30 hectares, a farm shop in Papendrecht and a few years ago a fruit and vegetable specialist in Sliedrecht was added to this. Van Os doesn't export themselves, but collaborates closely with exporters, such as D&G Fruit which has a strong position on the British and Scandinavian market.