Jan does not expect the season to improve. "Even if sales were to take off, it will not save the season. When the weather in the regions around the Black Sea begins to warm up, cabbage starts to grow at an accelerated rate there. The early cabbage, even though these are generally softer, are destined for Russia, and the northern parts of Eastern Europe."
Dutch white cabbage is grown, primarily, for the export market. Compared to countries where this is a really big product, the Netherlands is small fry, explains Jan. Huge amounts of cabbages are grown in Eastern Europe countries. Thanks to the past season's good yields, the Netherlands is still in the picture. "Unfortunately for the growers, they have to keep putting money into the business to keep it afloat. For us, as traders, things are ticking over, but we cannot continue without the farmers."
It is going better with growers who specialise in pointed cabbage. "Compared to white cabbage, this is a minor product. Pointed cabbage is a speciality cultivation, and they are also stored in a specific way. Pointed cabbage is stored in oxygen-poor cooling cells and is sealed when they are packaged. They have a longer shelf-life, and there is a demand for these. Carrots are also faring better."