For the majority of outdoor crops, the Swiss market is currently experiencing a significant under-supply. Due to the persistent heat during the summer months, many growers are expected to suffer significant losses. "As is the case in almost all other European markets, we have far too few onions in large calibres, say 70+," says Rene Meier of the wholesaler with the same name, based in Sitterdorf.
Preliminary balance sheet
The wholesaler is still hesitant to already give his conclusions for this year's season: ''At the beginning of the potato harvest, people also predicted shortages, but currently there are more potatoes on the market than anyone expected. For the onions, we have to wait until the end of the month before we can draw a meaningful balance.''
By contrast, cabbage vegetables already have an overview of the market situation. ''Just as in the German growing areas we have losses of red and white cabbage of up to 20-30 percent. Of red beets and celery, on the other hand, there are currently enough in Switzerland.''
Leeks from Turkey
In addition to the traditional regional goods, the wholesaler increasingly relies on imported goods as soon as the Swiss border opens on 1 January. "I import leeks directly from Turkey over a window of about five months. I have been specialising in this niche over the years." At the moment, leeks from domestic fields are still available on the market, but their sales are slow." So far, it was just too warm for leeks, but we expect sales to go up in the next few weeks, in line with the drop in temperature. At Christmas, demand will generally rise massively, with red beets and Chinese cabbages in the lead.''
Beets are one of the big sellers during the Christmas season
Outdoor vegetables in a big way
Rene Meier manages the wholesaler of the same name, marketing products that are coming from a total of 200 producers in the region. The company is increasingly focusing on the trade in fresh and processed outdoor vegetables. A fleet of vehicles, cold rooms and a production hall are available for this purpose. In addition to domestic wares, the wholesale trade involves imported vegetables from various sources (including Turkey, the Netherlands and Austria). Suppliers are primarily resellers in the region.
For more information:
René Meier - Gemüse & Früchte
Amriswilerstrasse 36
8589 Sitterdorf, Schweiz
Tel.: +41 71 422 15 16
Fax: +41 71 422 49 76
info@meier-gemuese.ch
www.meier-gemuese.ch