Mike Glas has been working for Glas Groenten for twenty years. He has never before seen a sprout season like this. “It has been scarce all year. The prices in free trade have never been this high from September until now. It is mostly the consumer who profits, prices are fairly low for them. Cultivators and retailers Glas Groenten does business with do not benefit much. I expect contact prices will be slightly higher next year than they are now,” Glas says.
Quality is less
The sprouts are currently still in the fields. “It is nearing its end, quality is becoming slightly less,” Glas continues. Because of the bad weather from June until September, growth fell behind, and that is noticeable in the amounts coming from the fields. “Those are just much smaller. It is causing shortages on the Dutch market. Annually, Germany buys many B-sprouts, but they are now also buying A-sprouts. The sprouts are outside of the contracts, and therefore very expensive,” Glas continues.
“Consumers will also soon start noticing the price rises. The contracts will soon end, and that will be seen in shop prices. All in all, it is a difficult year,” Glas says. Especially now that the current situation in Spain is also causing shortages on the market, especially in lettuce, endive and spinach. Dutch consumers are therefore buying more Dutch products, according to Glas. Vegetables such as cabbage, headed cabbage and carrot will be doing well. “It is currently all starting to improve,” Glas concludes.
For more information:
Glas Groenten VOF
Dulleweg 36
1721 PM Broek op Langedijk, the Netherlands
T: +31 (0)226 313 981
F: +31 (0)226 320 245
info@glas-groenten.nl
www.glas-groenten.nl