The onion market is heading towards a bit of a pickle, where some experts expect the onions to run out by March. Although Polish company Green Best isn't primarily focused on onions, it might be the first time they can actually make some money off of the produce.
Like in many European countries, the Polish onions are smaller in size than usual, says Kornelia Lewikowska, specialist in purchasing and sales for the Polish company Green Best: "Sizes this year are smaller, usually caliber 4-6, but my growers offer me also sizes 5+ and 6+. Of course they are not as easily available as in previous years."
The scarcity of onions in Europe has had it's effect on the prices of the onions, Lewikowska explains: "Onion prices are high and the producers I've spoken with claim the price will be even higher in the upcoming weeks. The current price has more than doubled compared the the prices in November 2017. When it comes to available quantities, I hear different opinions. Some growers think that the onions will run out in the spring, others think they will not."
One might think countries with a lot of demand for onions are working on a back-up plan for when the onions actually run out. Lewikowska is seeing a slight interest, but nothing that indicates a catastrophic turn of events, like onions running out: "So far I haven't noticed a lot of interest in our onions, but customers from the Netherlands and Denmark are starting to ask about it and tell us that they will need it in December and January, so they are thinking ahead."
Of course, in those places where consumers might face problems when onions do actually run out, Lewikowska claims it will be like Christmas-time for Polish onion farmers: "The Polish farmers are happy with the situation on the market, because in previous years they were not able to earn a lot of money on their onions. They hope that this season will change their bad luck. Some Polish farmers are delaying selling their onions, hoping for an even higher price."
For more information:
Kornelia Lewikowska
Green Best
Mob: +48 737 602 848
Fax: +48 17 850 80 00
Email: kornelia.lewikowska@greenbest.pl
www.greenbest.pl