Red onion sales are very calm. “It is always very calm at this time of year, but in other years we might have been able to sell at least a few onions. It is incredibly calm right now,” says Carl van de Wiel of onion sorting and packing station Agro Centre Holland, which is specialises in red onions and shallots.
“Countries surrounding the Netherlands are becoming increasingly self-supporting. Twenty-five per cent of the British onion area consists of red onions, and harvests have been fair to good everywhere. It will only become properly hectic in November and December.”
The Dutch area increased by at least five per cent this year, but yields have been much lower. “In the south and in Flevoland yields have been significantly lower. In the polder they have been more or less similar, and in the north they have been quite good. All in all you would expect a stronger market than previous years, but that is not the case at all,” Van de Wiel continues. “Fortunately, quality is very good, and the onions are quickly and easily processed. With that, we can make a name for ourselves on the global market. We will definitely be able to get rid of the volume, but perhaps not for the full price. But we should be able to sell good onions for a little more than cost.”
Van de Wiel has high expectations for shallots. “After years of bad prices, this year was started very well. We have constant demand, and I expect the market to remain good. The product looks well and really meets a need. We should be able to make a tidy profit with shallots this season.”
For more information:
Carl van de Wiel
Agro Centre Holland
Noordseweg 11
4772 PG Langeweg