It is obvious that the summer vegetable harvest was hit hard by rain and hail. Yet, according to Adri den Dekker, purchasing and agricultural director for HAK, the necessary uncertainties still exist. “Our carrots, green peas and green beans were hit the hardest. We can sow the green beans much later than usual, and the harvests for green peas and carrots are very disappointing. It is fairly uncertain how these consequences will manifest over the course of the year. We will only be able to take stock of summer vegetables in late August, after we haul in the nets.”
“We are trying to bring in commodities that meet HAK’s requirements using all our knowledge and networks, and we are working on that for days on end. It is an incredibly hectic situation. I’ve heard talk of the largest vegetable shortage in all my 40 years of working in this sector. In 1976 the harvest was very disappointing due to drought, but damages are more extensive now, and include more products,” Den Dekker continues.
“And it is not just a Dutch problem, it is a Western European problem, which is a source of great concern to us. Belgium and the North of France were hit hard as well. We have spread out our production somewhat, but large quantities come from the south. We try to cultivate within a radius of 125 km, because the basis of our products are Dutch commodities.”