"The French market prefers French produce. Dutch products are only imported if the product in question is not available in France." This is according to Jonathan Goumon of the Greenery, a Dutch fruit and vegetable trading company. "You cannot even call the French produce competition. Even if we were to offer Dutch products at 50% of the price, shoppers still focus on domestic products."
"According to KCB (Quality Control Bureau) figures, fewer Dutch products have been exported to France over the last three years. Currently, there are some Dutch products available, but compared to Spanish products, it is very little. Dutch companies do not often export to France", continues Jonathan.
Dutch technology
"Just like the Netherlands, France also grows tomatoes year-round. At the Sival, many Dutch companies sold greenhouse lighting technology to the French", says Jonathan. The Sival is an annual trade fair for speciality crops. "The calendar for French produce is very similar to the Dutch one. Aubergines are grown from the end of March to the end of November. Courgettes, which are cultivated in full ground, grow from March to October. France wants to become self-sufficient when it comes to tomatoes and bell peppers, so production is increasing."
Organic is popular
Organic products are very popular in France. Jonathan says, "There is not enough supply to meet the high demand. Every production year, this volume rises by 13%."
For more information:
The Greenery
Jonathan Goumon