According to wholesaler Pierre Smets from Geleen, the Netherlands, the asparagus season had a difficult start. “Prices are far too low for the time of year. People just aren’t ready for asparagus yet, they don’t expect it this early. Normally, demand starts to get into its stride around Easter, but that’s three weeks later now, and people just don’t have asparagus on their mind yet.”
With a considerable clientele consisting of retail traders and street trading, the asparagus are an important product for the company every year. Pierre buys the asparagus from The Greenery and ZON. Prices for white asparagus are currently around 5 euro. “Time will tell. It’ll be bad if the summer is as hot as last year, with great supply for weeks on end. We often have better prices when the weather is changeable,” the wholesaler continues.
P. Smets has been active as wholesaler in Geleen since 1930. Pierre is the second generation, and he is still very active in the company. P. Smets clientele consists of retail traders, catering suppliers , street trading and, increasingly, Turkish customers and farm shops as well. Customers ca be found in a radius of 100 kilometres around Geleen, 60 per cent is Dutch, 30 per cent is Belgian and 10 per cent is German.
For more information:
P. Smets & Zn.
Hofdwarsweg 11
6161 DE Geleen, the Netherlands
Tel: +31 46 474 23 81
Fax: +31 46 475 73 23
info@psmets.nl
www.psmets.nl