"We have been picking 1 500 kg per dag for the last month or so. I think we are about ten days ahead of last year", says Aart van Wijk aka 'De Sikkert' from Opijnen. He primarily cultivates the Chester Thornles blackberry variety. "The quality is very good this year. There was minimal frost damage. There was only damage to the Loch Ness variety, and even then only 10% of the blooms were frozen. The large supply means a moderate price. The demand now, during the holidays, is as always less. The current supply makes it difficult to realise a price increase. The average price per kg is already EUR 2,50 lower than last year. We are hoping the next few weeks will be better. I expect that situation will change once the supply decreases."
The increase in the number of Dutch greenhouses has two sides, according to this grower. "On the one hand, the higher volume of greenhouse blackberries means entry into new markets, which is the same kind of effect as with raspberries. There are certainly more raspberries now than five years ago, but the prices are also better. I think, in the short term, the growth in the area used will be greater than the increase in consumption. I think it will take two or three years for the supply and demand to balance out. The present low prices also mean we can supply more markets. On the other hand, cultivating blackberries is expensive, and very labour intensive. When market prices are low, times are hard."
For more information:
Aart van Wijk
De Sikkert Zachtfruit
Zandstraat 117
4184 EM Opijnen
Tel: +31 641 271 690
desikkert@live.nl