This week marks the start of the Evelina apple harvest at Van Kessel Fruit, followed by the last of the Jonagold-type varieties. "We can safely say this year's picking season has been a huge success in every respect, both in volume and quality. I think most growers have harvested more fruit than expected, and the quality has been excellent," says Jack van Kessel.
"It was quite a logistical challenge at times to get everything picked and cooled in time, but I think we managed that very well," he continues. "Because some lots were picked a bit later, there's been occasional pressure on certain batches, which usually affects prices. That's mainly the case for pears right now; apple prices are holding up much better."
Despite these market fluctuations, Jack remains optimistic about the sales season. "We've got a fantastic product in our storage bins. The market will always be the market—you can't control that. Once the weaker lots have cleared out, I don't expect any more pressure to sell quickly. Of course, that means we'll sometimes say no to offers that don't meet our price expectations, but we still have to keep sales moving steadily."
At the moment, smaller-sized pears are fetching slightly lower prices due to increased supply from Belgium. "Dutch pears tend to be larger on average, so we have a better supply of the coarser grades. That gives us a bit more breathing room; we don't have to chase every low offer on the smaller sizes," Jack explains.
Evelina apples
As for the Evelina apples, the Dutch acreage at Van Kessel Fruit is the same as last year, but the crop looks outstanding. "The trees have never carried so much fruit. Last year we had some hail damage, but this season they're absolutely picture-perfect," says Jack proudly.
Most of Van Kessel's Evelina apples are supplied to a major Dutch supermarket chain, ensuring the fruit finds its way to consumers across the country.
For more information:
Jack van Kessel
Van Kessel Fruit B.V.
Provincialeweg 143-145
5334 JG Velddriel
T +31 (0) 418 631231
[email protected]
www.vankesselfruit.nl
