The mushroom market has gotten off to a good start in 2020. "The market could have collapsed after Christmas and New Year. Demand is, however, still going strong," says Tonny Hooijmans of the Dutch company, Oke Trading."Supply and demand are well balanced. White mushroom prices are at an average of about €1,70."
"The special varieties are also selling well. Oyster mushrooms sales are going well. Chestnut mushrooms have even been a little scarce in recent weeks. This will also not change any time soon. February is always a calmer month for us. That is due to several factors. These include the (Fruit Logistica) trade show and Carnaval."
Oke Trading sells its mushrooms mainly on the domestic market. They also sell to buyers in Germany, Belgium, Portugal, and France. The company's mushrooms make their way to the Middle East via exporters too. Oke Trading sells mostly Polish mushrooms to the United Kingdom. According to Tonny, this will not change much after Brexit.
"All in all, this year began well for growers as well as traders. The mushrooms quality and shelf life are also good. Attracting enough pickers is, and remains, a major issue for farmers."
This market is also concerning itself with the topic of plastic packaging reduction. "I would love to put my mushrooms in cardboard boxes. But, that does affect logistics. You can put less in a box, and then you cannot stack them as high. When you mention a price, clients are taken aback. So, it has not yet been easy to find a solution," concludes Tonny.
For more information:
Tonny Hooijmans
Oke Trading
Tel: +31 (0) 852 737 984
Email: tonny@oketrading.nl