"Extortionate" is how Pieter de Ruiter of 4Fruit Company describes the current prices for Spanish greenhouse and field vegetables on the market. Due to the current gas prices, the Dutch supply is only just starting, bad weather in Spain is doing the rest and pushing the market prices to unprecedented heights for the time of year.
"Vine tomatoes are being sold at EUR 14-15 and plum tomatoes at EUR 15-16. Red peppers are priced between 14-15 euros, yellow ones are sold for 13.5-14 euros and orange ones also for 13-14 euros. The same goes for courgettes. This is really unbelievable. Years ago we sometimes had these levels in January, but never at the end of March."
"And the situation will remain like this for a while. In both Murcia and Almeria it has been raining heavily and plenty of rain is expected for the coming week as well. Products like iceberg lettuce, cauliflower and broccoli simply cannot be harvested at the moment. Iceberg lettuce prices are currently fluctuating between 8-9 euros", Pieter says.
"The supply of Dutch greenhouse vegetables is still really limited and normally you would always have a supply of them at this time. At the same time, this situation also frightens me a little. It would almost give you vertigo," says the trader. The transport strikes, too, are not yet completely over. "Some transporters are driving, others are not. With a bit of luck, the trucks will get through."
For more information:
Pieter de Ruiter 
4 Fruit Company
Handelsweg 30
2988 DB Ridderkerk
+31 (0)180 641902
pr@4fc.nl
www.4fruitcompany.nl