The German cabbage season has now reached its second half; domestic white and red cabbage is still in sufficient supply, but the prices remain weak. This tends to create a negative mood among growers and wholesalers, says Fridjof Ploog, a vegetable trader from the northern German growing region of Dithmarschen.
In the wake of the Corona-related sales crisis, growers failed to harvest about 10 percent of white cabbage fields for the processing industry last fall. "We tried to save labor and storage costs where possible," Ploog said. "In the meantime, the outflow is generally okay, with prices remaining weak. The price range for fresh white cabbage is 0.06-0.12 euros/kg."
In addition to supplying German food retailers, part of the cabbage yield is also exported to Eastern Europe, says Fridjof Ploog.
Red cabbage: Reluctance to sell
Parallel to the marketing of white cabbage, red cabbages continue to be traded from cold storages. "I would describe this year's yields as average. Marketing has started well so far, with the usual seasonal peak at Christmas. In recent weeks, prices have risen somewhat to around 0.20-0.25 euros/kg because growers are rather reluctant to sell," Ploog says.
Savoy cabbage, in contrast to white and red cabbage, is more of a marginal product at Ploog Gemüse LLC and will be offered from cold storage by mid-January at the latest.
Old vs. new: White cabbage (l) has been grown in the Dithmarschen region for decades. Pointed cabbage, on the other hand, has only been rapidly gaining in importance in recent years.
Pointed cabbage: High demands, short marketing window
In addition to traditional Dithmarsch white and red cabbage cultivation, other types of cabbage have been rapidly gaining in importance in recent years, such as pointed cabbage. According to Ploog, this category also had an average harvest season. "At Christmas, we delivered the last stock lots," he says.
Could pointed cabbage, which is popular with retailers, replace white cabbage crops in the long run? "This is something we should avoid, from my point of view. Firstly, because the harvest and marketing window of pointed cabbage is shorter. Secondly, the crop is also not as storable compared to white cabbage. Finally, marketing pointed cabbage to food retailers is very demanding," Ploog explains.
One of the Ploog delivery vehicles
Carrots: Stocks to last into May
In addition to the wide range of cabbages, tons of regional carrots also find their way to consumers each year. "A few weeks ago, we felt a brief upswing, because Spanish produce was traded only in limited quantities and at high prices due to the cold snap. Food retailers increasingly resorted to domestic stock carrots. Current stocks are expected to be sufficient to cover domestic demand into May."
Increased change to organic cultivation
All in all, the young trader is looking to the future with confidence. Of course, the mood has suffered from the Corona crisis and the current price situation. Nevertheless, Ploog also sees several positive longer term developments. "Dithmarsch cabbage will undoubtedly continue to exist. Besides this, more and more regional farmers are trying their hand at organic farming. We've only traded conventional products so far, but I can imagine we will also enter the organic market in the future."
More information:
Ploog Gemüsebau & Versand
Fridjof Ploog
Hauptstraße, 36
25718 Friedrichskoog
Tel.: +49 (0) 4856 – 340
E-Mail: info@ploog-gemuese.de
www.ploog-gemuese.de