The Dutch radish market has been very quiet. That is nothing unusual, says John Grootscholten of Daily Fresh Radish. "Many customers have been actively selling radishes all spring and summer. Then in September and October, they focus on other fruits and vegetables and don't run any more radish promotions," he says.
"We and other radish growers respond by sowing less for this quieter period. We make the best of it by steaming the soil and cleaning the entire farm in preparation for the winter rush. Traditionally, the demand from Germany erupts around November 1. In the summer, they have outdoor radishes from the Palatinate region, but not in the winter. So they import mainly from Italy and the Netherlands."
"I, incidentally, got word this week that the first German clients want to start ordering again. Bad weather means they're starting slightly earlier this year, so things are being stirred up a bit. Average prices have been somewhat lower lately for the time of year," John admits, "but will start to pick up again now. This year's red radish volumes are similar to last year's. In recent years, the demand for specialties has been increasing, but we sow, grow, and bunch those strictly to order."
Rainbow Radish
"Once Germany starts taking our radishes, we're basically full and can't really take orders from other countries or buyers. We won't have the volume in the winter. We already grow on double the acreage in winter compared to summer and use more locations. We used to rent additional greenhouses in the winter but have turned that around and are buying some greenhouses and renting them out in the summer. That offers security, and we ensure we make good use of our greenhouses throughout the year," John concludes.
For more information:
Daily Fresh Radish
25 Hoge Geest
2671 LK, Naaldwijk, NL
Sales: Rik Hofland, +31 (0) 641 624 211
John: +31 (0) 651 592 838
Dennis: +31 (0) 654 244 414
Email: [email protected]
www.dailyfreshradish.nl