The Senegalese sweetcorn season is gaining momentum at Hermans Suikermais in the Netherlands. "We started slowly in week 51, but volumes are now starting to genuinely explode," says Con Storm, who visited those farms in Senegal last week.
"Senegal's weather and growing conditions are ideal. Daytime temperatures are around 35°C, which cools to about 18°C at night. That limits disease pressure and makes for excellent quality. Senegal has a major advantage over other African countries; it has access to sufficient water. The logistics are also great, with that corn arriving in Belgium in just over a week."
"Our grower in Senegal enlarged his packing facility and cooling capacity again this year. We'll continue with Senegalese corn until weeks 18-19 and will have enough available until the Moroccan and Spanish seasons start. This week is usually somewhat quieter for sweetcorn sales, and that's no different now, though demand is rising," Con explains.
He is optimistic about those sales. "Besides Dutch supermarkets and wholesale customers we've served for years, there's a growing demand from the food service sector, meal box suppliers, and ethnic supermarkets. Retail category manager often wants to be busy with everything."
"Except corn, because they're not top sellers like tomatoes and cucumbers. Supermarkets want to offer corn but don't want to have to work for it. We, thus, try to relieve our clients of all worries. Packaging-wise, anything's possible. We supply the corn standard with 7x2 pieces per desired crate, loose in boxes or crates, or bulk in nets or crates," Con concludes.
For more information:
Hermans Sweet Corn
1a Donk
5995 PL, Kessel, NL
Tel: +31 (0) 774 629 325
Mob: +31 (0) 651 312 426
con@mielies.nl
www.mielies.nl