“More demand from the south than from the east on leek market”

Though demand for leeks was quite low last week, by now the market has recovered somewhat. “Whether it is due to a supermarket promotion or to temperatures, I do not know, but the market does not need much to recover,” says Kees Jansen of the cultivation and packing company of the same name from Etten-Leur, the Netherlands.

“Not that prices are extremely high, but the pace has gone back up again a bit. Last week, we went from 35 to 40-45 cents, and Belgian auctions are already recording 55 cents,” says Jansen. “Normally, December and January are good months for leeks. But now, we hear from many different sources that productions are somewhat disappointing, after the delay in planting last summer. Normally, prices would stay level. In Belgium, serious volumes will only be expected after New Year’s.”

“We mostly supply to exporters. It is exactly that combination of cultivation and sales that makes us interesting for buyers. Currently, more leek is going south than east, because Poland is still producing. We have good demand from Italy and Scandinavian countries. Sales to the UK are plain disappointing, but many leeks are being sent to France and Belgium again, because their productions were more difficult.”

For more information:
Kees Jansen
Teelt- en verpakkingsbedrijf Gebroeders Jansen
Naaldstraat 1
4873 LZ Etten-Leur, the Netherlands
Tel: +31(0)76 52 64 397
info@jansenprei.nl