The cost of out-of-season fruits and veggies, like bell peppers, broccoli, and lettuce, is rising for Dutch consumers, with some supermarkets charging an average of €3.50 for a cauliflower. Gerard van den Akker of produce auction Bilthoven said that a combination of high gas prices, which have led domestic greenhouse farmers to plant fewer crops, and poor weather impacting supply from Morocco and Spain has affected availability.
While this is going on, consumers are putting the more pricey veggies to the side and focusing on those that are in season, like leeks and Brussels sprouts. "They cost less." Not everyone will like them, but we do," a supermarket patron told the network. Some supermarkets have restrictions on how much produce one consumer may purchase.
He also warned things will likely not get better due to restrictions on pesticides and energy.