The new onion season has only just begun. "There are many fields with poor onion sets. That should offer some perspective, but in the end, demand will determine the state of the market," says Leon van Meir of Van Meir Onions & Potatoes in Steenbergen. "We're seeing reasonable demand at the moment, but it's still early in the season, and the larger volumes are yet to arrive. Prices are already trending downward, but that's typical after the first harvest. At the farm level, prices are currently between 20 and 30 cents, which is not bad in itself. What the seed onion harvest will bring will become clear over the next two months."
Leon is more direct when it comes to the potato season. "It's going to be a disaster. Right now, both the old and new crops are being sold at rock-bottom prices. There is simply no sales activity and no demand from the french fry industry. Much more than the onion market, the potato market is dependent on consumer confidence. The onion market has a much more stable base, and the cheaper onions get, the more they are consumed. But that doesn't apply to fries. Even during the COVID years, the potato market took a much harder hit. In recent years, prices have been high, leading to massive expansion, and now the consequences are being felt. I wouldn't be surprised if we're heading into a few tough years. Wheat isn't expensive either, and that will start to have an impact as well."
For more information:
Van Meir Onions & Potatoes
Boonhil 8
4651 VW Steenbergen
Tel: +31 (0) 167 - 54 22 20
[email protected]
www.vanmeir.nl
