Louis Pemen will begin harvesting his Everest leeks in the Netherlands this week. "As always, traders are anxiously awaiting the first of these. We planted in about 10-12 March. But due to the cold spring, the young leeks are two weeks later than usual. Despite the late season, the quality is excellent," says Louis. The leeks will be available from this week onward. They'll be delivered until early May next year.
Louis Premen on his farm in the Netherlands.
Leek growth
"The leek market is growing in both volume and sales. There's a 22% increase in volume for the entire leek category. And, by 2020, turnover had risen by five percent. That's what IRI supermarket sales figures for the year show. Leeks are increasingly used as seasoning in dishes like lasagne, quiche, and soups. They're also be used more and more for BBQs in summer."
Trade is anticipating leeks
The Greenery sells Louis' leeks. "There are already buyers specifically asking for Everest leeks. There's demand from distant destinations such as the USA, Japan, and the Middle East. In an average year, The Greenery sells 55% of its Everest leeks to these far-flung destinations. Those leeks must meet special quality requirements. Japan, for example, only wants very thick leeks (4op). But, a lot is sold at auction too. Trusted customers who want quality buy these. These clients appreciate that the leeks are carefully and attentively grown, cleaned, washed, and sorted," Louis concludes.
These leeks can be supplied in 10kg EPS green and 10kg and 5kg boxes.
For more information:
The Greenery Growers
Dick Bakker
Tel: +31 (0)651 610 553
Email: [email protected]
