Dutch top fruit is currently being sent to a wide range of countries. Despite this, exporter Kees Oskam is not expecting a show stopper. Kees is from the trading company, Handelsmaatschappij Jan Oskam. This business is based in Vleuten, the Netherlands.
"Clients are still cautious. We are only selling by the pallet. They may be keeping last year in mind. The quality was not so good then. However, fortunately, the quality is considerably better this year. That should, therefore, not be an obstacle."
"Apple sales are currently even more difficult than those of pears. Here and there, more was harvested than expected. Sales to Germany are also tough at the moment," says Kees. "I think one of the biggest challenges for us, as exporters, is our markets' nationalist approach."
"You see this in, for example, Germany, far more than a few years ago. DCs in the Ruhr area get apples from Lake Constance (more than 600 km away). But, the 300 km from the Netherlands is no good. I think this is a dangerous development. After all, we live if a free market. We should be able to have free trade."
Nevertheless, he looks forward to the market situation with confidence. "The fruit tastes and looks good. Current prices are reasonably stable for this time of year. If the price can gradually increase, everyone in the chain can earn something," explains the exporter.
Handelsmaatschappij Jan Oskam is an exhibitor again at this week's Fruit Attraction in Madrid (Hall 10, stand F01). "Ger van Burik set a Dutch Pavilion eight years ago. We immediately participated. Back then, there were only about seven companies involved."
"Since then, the trade show has grown enormously. It has also become more international. Spain is on the market for our Conference pears every year. This depends on their own harvest. This is, therefore, an attractive market for us," concludes Kees.
For more information:
Kees Oskam
Handelsmaatschappij Jan Oskam
Mob: +31 (0) 653 371 003
kees@janoskam.nl
www.janoskam.nl