The Dutch asparagus season is already entering its last phase. "We will be able to immediately look back at a reasonable season," says Walter Gubbels from Gubbels Asperges. This grower from Helvoirt cultivates white, green, and purple asparagus. He sells his products in his own store and via The Greenery.
"We saw warm periods, followed by cold spells, several times this season. It is, however, starting to become quite dry on various plots now. Around Easter, there was a bit of a fuss about low prices. But, by the time this made the news, the low prices were, in fact, a thing of the past already," Walter says, looking back.
Last week auction prices for AA asparagus were at around EUR4,70/4,80. This week, the price level fell slightly, to closer to EUR4. However, this grower expects prices are likely to increase for Pentecost and Father's Day. "There will also not be a peak in supplies," he says.
The colored varieties are doing well this season too. "The green asparagus were struggling at the start of the season. This was due to competition from Italy. However, they have been doing very well in recent weeks. Supermarkets are increasingly asking for Dutch green asparagus," Walter goes on to say.
"The demand for purple asparagus is also on the rise. However, this remains a real niche market. There is high demand at the moment. People are also prepared to pay a decent price for this product. But, there should not be too many on the market."
According to the grower, the number of new, promising white asparagus varieties entering the market is a good thing. In contrast, he has less to say about new green types. "Unfortunately, some new green varieties have missed the mark completely," concludes Walter.
For more information:
Gubbels Asperges
7 Nieuwkuijkseweg
5268 LH Helvoirt, NL
Tel.: +31 (0) 651 890 889
[email protected]
