Cauliflower sales are very slow in the first weeks of the year. So says Bertus van Tricht of AGF-Direct in the Netherlands. "That's normal. Between Christmas and New Year's, you don't sell any cauliflower. Then in the first week of the year, the schools and construction sectors are still closed. It's only in the second week that life resumes and cauliflower is served again."
"Last year, there were plenty of shortages; not this year. The cultivation areas are being spared extreme weather. And both the French and Spanish cauliflower supplies are holding up reasonably well. Prices are around €6 to €6.50. Sales are still currently slow," explains Bertus. "But I expect a definite upswing in the market in early February. That's when the necessary marketing campaigns are planned again."
AGF-Direct imports cauliflower exclusively from Spain, ignoring France. "It's much farther, but Dutch consumers prefer the Spanish varieties. These are related to Dutch cauliflowers. The Roscoff variety from Brittany is much harder. This year's cauliflowers are of excellent quality."
Chicory sales are far more difficult. "Those continued well towards the holidays but are now far less. Qualitatively, the season's going well. But pen yields are high and prices much lower at €0.50 to €0.60/kg," Bertus concludes.
For more information:
Bertus van Tricht
AGF-Direct
2 Groothandelsmarkt
1681 NN, Zwaagdijk, NL
Tel: +31 (0) 853 032 637
Email: Bertus@agfdirect.nl
Website: www.agfdirect.nl