“Everyone has to deal with the scourge of the market”

Except for minimal recoveries, the tomato market has been particularly bad all year. Production in both western and southern Europe are at full tilt, but consumption is not keeping up. 

The tomato market has been extremely poor for months now. For illuminated cultivators the season has not been good, and in the last three or four weeks, prices for traditional cultivation have also been very average. “We had a period that was not bad in April,” says Arne van Aalst of Prominent. “These last few weeks it has been bad for all segments.”

The causes are diverse. “Many factors contribute,” Van Aalst explains. “In the southern countries the weather circumstances are good. It is warm, and at night it cools down sufficiently. That is ideal for tomatoes there. That influences our market.” And there is more news from the south. There is talk of Turkish tomatoes that enter European markets because of skirmishes with Russia. “Those words have not yet been confirmed, but it would put extra pressure on the market.”

And then there is the situation in western Europe. “Dutch and Belgian growers are producing plenty, and local German growers are also producing. Except for the period of good weather around Ascension Day consumption has not been very high either.”

All these factors individually do not ruin the market, but combined they cause a sad price. There are no real exceptions, even specialties are in trouble. “These are coming in numbers especially from Morocco. Everyone has to deal with the scourge of the market now.” A solution has not yet been found. “We now mostly just have to wait and see, actually. As soon as the weather improves consumption will increase. Productions from competing countries will become less, and the market will be less pressured.” So persevere, and continue waiting? “Of course, we are promoting Dutch greenhouse farming, setting up promotions and talking to buyers. But when there is this much product in stock, it remains difficult.”