Now that the summer vacation is over in Belgium, bushel carrot demand is gradually increasing. That is according to Tom Desmet of Desmet Agro. The company is currently in the thick of that season but also grows potatoes, onions, leeks, and various cabbage varieties. "With the last few weeks' hot weather and many people on vacation, there's been very little demand. That seems to be recovering slightly, and prices are stabilizing," he says.
Tom is Desmet Agro's fourth generation and took over running the business two years ago. The current bushel carrot season, he says, is not going well. "Sales are tough this season and volumes are generally declining. I think we're at about 70% of other years. We hear that from the auctions and retail, too. Carrot bushels are quite expensive, and a niche product, and people are increasingly struggling to pay for vegetables."
The carrots' quality also leaves much to be desired. "We've had very heavy rain. Last week, it rained between 15 and 20 mm, with a few more heavy showers predicted for this week. That hasn't done the quality any good. Plus, the foliage is growing too fast. We grow for 80 days, then harvest, process, and market," says Tom.
"But, the carrots are growing too fast to keep up. It's a huge growth year. That benefits many crops but works against us. A slightly drier year, where you have to do some watering, and we can determine the quality, is better. The carrots finished growing about 20 days earlier than usual."
The company sells its carrot bushels directly to retailers and via auction. It offers these until about December. "We work with fixed retail contracts, so that's stable. Auction prices remain volatile. Still, demand should increase again towards the fall. After all, people eat more carrots when it gets colder. I just hope prices stay good. We remain optimistic about the future since we're close to the action and can be flexible for new customers. We try to find additional sales and new opportunities every year," Tom concludes.
For more information:
Tom Desmet
Desmet Agro
Tel.: + 32 (0) 470 688 774
Email: tom@desmet-agro.be