The cold weather from earlier in the year has had a positive effect on the radish market. John Grootscholten of Daily Fresh Radish says, "We benefited from a cold spring. Production peaks do not start early in the spring. The demand in the market is not yet ready then."
The low spring temperatures ensured that the radish production began gradually. Not only in the Netherlands, where Daily Fresh Radish grows radishes year-round. This was also the case in Germany. There, radishes are grown in open fields. "The German farmers were about three weeks late this year. They also had to contend with low temperatures. This resulted in the fact that their production also gradually started at the end of April", says John
"Now that temperatures are rising fast, the trade is good and ready. "The demand is high. Supplies are also stable which means prices will be good", he continues. Although the current market might be suitable for it, John is not asking high prices for his radishes. "We would far rather see our buyers returning time after time. Rather that, than fleecing them by adding a few cents to the price. This might be beneficial in the short term. We would prefer a stable price in the long term."
Daily Fresh Radish supplies their radishes to Dutch supermarkets. John says, "Our radish bunches mainly go to the Netherlands' neighbouring countries. In contrast, our loose radishes also get shipped to distant lands such as Saudi Arabia and Japan."
John has noticed a considerable increase of radish flow packs in recent years. "The majority of the radishes we cultivate are packaged in this way. This has increasingly become a daily activity for us. Flow packing benefits the radishes. Without packaging, they simply do not last as long. They are also more prone to damage," he explains.
During the summer months, Daily Fresh Radish grows their product on a plot of about 10 hectares in the town of Naaldwijk. Expansion is definitely an option for this company. This is in order to be able to offer more continuity in the winter. "It just takes longer to grow radishes in the winter", says John. "In the summer we have nice radishes in roughly three weeks. In the winter this takes ten weeks. That is why, in the winter, we cultivate on double the number of hectares as compared to the summer." John and his brother, Dennis, currently rent additional greenhouses in the winter. "Another location is the Westland is certainly worth considering. It must, ideally, be as close to our current location as possible", concludes John.
For more information:
Daily Fresh Radish B.V.
25 Hoge Geest
2671 LK Naaldwijk
John: +31 (0) 651 592 838
Dennis: +31 (0) 654 244 414
Fax: + 31 (0) 174 641 079
E-mail: info@dailyfreshradish.nl
www.dailyfreshradish.nl
25 Hoge Geest
2671 LK Naaldwijk
John: +31 (0) 651 592 838
Dennis: +31 (0) 654 244 414
Fax: + 31 (0) 174 641 079
E-mail: info@dailyfreshradish.nl
www.dailyfreshradish.nl