Difficult sprout season

André Noordhoek from Bleiswijk is calling this a difficult season for sprouts. "The prices are still reasonable but the quality is struggling at the moment due to thrips. There are a lot of rejections. Parties then have to be sold for a lower price." André is one of the bigger sprout growers in the Netherlands and arranges his own sales as well as those of a few other local growers.

Most Dutch sprout growers are affected by thrips and don't have the means at hand to fight them. "Thrips are occurring among growers from the Flevopolder to Limburg, where most growers are located. Good sprouts are hard to find." André's main concern is that countries within the EU have different norms for crop protection agents. "Belgian and English growers are allowed to use pesticides that are banned in the Netherlands. Sprouts treated with these substances can still be sold in the Netherlands. I believe it should all be equal, especially within the EU."

The Dutch sprout season will run until the end of February, estimates André. "I don't see the situation improving, it will get worse first."

For more information:
Noordhoek Agro
André Noordhoek
Groendalseweg 8
2665LH Bleiswijk
T: 0031 (0) 10-5212629
canoordhoek@kpnmail.nl