The Dutch sprout season started earlier than in other years this year. "The first sprouts were harvested as early as July, whereas in other years this is as late as mid-August," says Menno Molenaar of Fresh2You. "Despite the drought, we see that the sprouts have grown well thanks to the frequent sprinkling. Also, the quality is good; the dry weather has contributed well to the good shelf life of the sprouts."
© Fresh2You
"We sold more sprouts than in other years in August and September. These higher sales are definitely positive. However, we also see that grower prices are at a lower level than in the past three years," Menno continued. "At the same time, there are also positive signs. For instance, more and more countries, such as Germany, are consuming sprouts year-round, which is creating a solid base demand for the market. Southern Europe is also a growing sales market for sprouts."
"Furthermore, we see that the pan-ready concept continues to develop. And although sprout sales are increasing, the average packing unit is decreasing. While kilogram packs used to be common, these have largely been replaced by 500- and 750-gram packs these days," the sprouts seller continued. Fresh2You has a strong position in the Benelux, the UK, and Germany with its sprout range.
The fresh produce trading company has stopped carrying purple sprouts completely. "Sometimes it is also important to be clear about what you are not doing. And purple sprouts, like organic sprouts, for example, are such a niche market that we decided to stop. In the first years, these niche products seemed promising, but the growth in sales stagnated, and it was actually not compatible with our existing lines," Menno says.
© Fresh2You
"Furthermore, we see that the sprouts sector is in full swing. The cost price for growers is rising tremendously. And the greening of cultivation, partly due to the shrinking resource package, demands solutions. In addition, there is plenty of automation in areas such as automatic picking and planting."
"At the moment, there are enough sprouts, but the current lower market prices do not necessarily say anything about how the season will continue. For example, we see that the later sprouts have suffered more from the drought and that yields in Belgium are considerably lower than in the Netherlands. So, depending on growth, there could still be a market upturn," Menno continues.
"For now, we are busy harvesting and preparing for December. Our colleagues in Morocco are currently planting the new sprout crop, so that by March 2026 – after the Dutch season – there will be enough Moroccan sprouts available for everyone. Then the circle will be complete again!"
For more information:
Menno Molenaar
Fresh2You
Transportweg 19
2991 LV Barendrecht
Tel: +31 (0) 6 5325 2597
[email protected]
www.fresh2you.nl
