The first German radishes from the Palatinate were harvested late last week in Mutterstadt. Jochen Fehmel from FeSa Obst- & Gemüsehandels GmbH & Co. KG reports: "The goods are currently still coming from the greenhouses. Within one and a half weeks, the 
film tunnels will follow, after which we will go over to the double-covered goods from the field." Radishes are the second spring product after spring onions (KW 10), starting the FeSa season.
We are not yet talking about huge quantities, which is okay for the current market situation: "At the moment, even Italian goods are on the market, currently selling very cheap. In week 14 or 15, if large quantities from Germany become available, no Italian radishes will remain in the German market."
The German goods, at a producer price of €0.40 per bundle, are just over double the price of these Italian goods. "As soon as we switch to German radish production, as well as spring onions, Italian goods will be out of favor after a relatively short changeover phase," says Fehmel.
The season for radishes is about the same every year, says Fehmel: "Cultivation in the greenhouse is relatively easy to control and we will have radishes available all the way from now until next January." Nevertheless, from the Netherlands comes an ever-increasing element of competition. "Of course, the imported vegetables can not compete with those from the Palatinate because of the high prices, but there are customers who specifically ask for Dutch and Belgian greenhouse radishes, digging a bit deeper into their pockets."
The Germans are more price-conscious than brand-oriented when buying these and similar products, Fehmel explains.
For more information:Jochen Fehmel
FeSa Obst- & Gemüsehandels GmbH & Co. KG
Im Grund 1
67112 Mutterstadt
Tel.: 06234 – 947 670
Mail: info@fe-sa.de
Web: www.fe-sa.de