In the Netherlands, the final weeks of the old onion season's harvest have begun at Meir Onions & Potatoes. "We still have some stock, but that will have run out in about three weeks. We can then stop on time for a good cleaning, and can go on vacation," says Leon van Meir. He reflects on an excellent year. "We bought onions on time; then you can earn some good money in a year like this."
The question is whether the old season will last until the new one begins. "If the onions are expensive, you don't need so many. I think the trade's still going pretty well but The quality is declining rapidly. There are also plenty of imported onions on the market. With these prices, everyone wants to get a piece of the pie. For example, onions are currently being loaded from Mexico, there are numerous fly-by-night sales and many Chinese, Egyptian, and New Zealand onions on the market," Leon explains.
Mexican onions
"I think the new onion sets season outlook looks good. There are fewer of them, and some must still be planted. I expect a healthy market this summer. The old crop should be finished by then, and hopefully, the imported onions flow will have dried up too. Then we can make a good start again."
Leon increasingly sources onions from the north of the Netherlands. The company pioneered getting onions from virgin growing areas in Wallonia, Belgium but has stopped. "It's like here in Zeeland: you must be able to irrigate; otherwise, your onion crop will fail. Or you have to have a year with normal rainfall. But then everyone has onions, and prices are often dramatic," he concludes.
For more information:
Van Meir Onions & Potatoes
8 Boonhil
4651 VW, Steenbergen, NL
Tel: +31 (0) 167 542 220
Email: info@vanmeir.nl
Website: www.vanmeir.nl