"Dutch cabbage sales are currently going strong," says Richard Kruijer of the mediation agency Tuindersbelang in Warmenhuizen, which centrally organises sales for around 60 cabbage growers. "Prices are skyrocketing, and I wouldn't be surprised if cabbage becomes even more expensive tomorrow and potentially reaches record highs in a few weeks."
"The price of white cabbage is currently above €0.65 (including packaging, ex-field), and red cabbage is around €0.85 and up. These are, of course, excellent prices. Cabbage growers have already had a few good years. You'd think the trend would stop at some point, but we operate in a free market where supply and demand rule. The harvest was lower this year, and that's now being reflected in the price. Growers are still steadily selling, but demand slightly outpaces supply," Richard continues.
"You also have to keep in mind that everything has become more expensive—from land and labour to plants. It's no longer possible to grow cabbage cheaply. Right now, demand is coming from across Europe. In two months, demand will mainly come from Western Europe, but currently, Eastern Europe is also active. Ukraine, for example, has become a significantly larger market in recent years," Richard adds.
"You can also see that buyers are willing to pay for quality, which they find in the Netherlands. The lower-quality batches have disappeared from the market anyway." When asked whether high prices have led to increased interest in cabbage cultivation, the cabbage seller says that acreage is only growing slightly at best. "After all, land is expensive, and some growers without successors are choosing to sell their land."
For more information:
Richard Kruijer
Tuindersbelang
Dergmeerweg 3
1749 VA Warmenhuizen
Tel: +31 (0) 226 391 000
[email protected]
www.tuindersbelang.nl