German retail chooses more expensive Dutch tomatoes

"The price of tomatoes on the vine has already been at a reasonable level since week 2/3. "In the middle of January the autumn crop was finished and since then prices for tomatoes on the vine are around 1.80 to 2 Euro" Jakko Kompier, who sells tomatoes on the vine for FreshQ-FrEsteem, says.

"Our lighted tomato on the vine area has in the meantime grown to about 170 HA. Therefore we really receive a lot of tomatoes." "The strongest competition comes from Spain, but at the moment Israel and Turkey are also offering tomatoes."

Striking, according to Jakko, is that at the moment German discounters consciously choose for the more expensive Dutch tomatoes of better colour, whilst various local retailers have Spanish tomatoes now.

According to the salesman the general demand for tomatoes is bad. "Weather conditions of course have also not been good, but at the moment the supermarkets are the best customers. The fixed programs run their course as well because of the increase in the number of our clients, but sales to wholesalers is disappointing.

"However, I am positive about the sale of tomatoes in the coming weeks. The cold weather in Spain limits supply of Spanish tomatoes and only in week 9/10 tomatoes from the traditional Dutch cultivation will carefully enter the market. Up to then I expect a good market for tomatoes on the vine" Jakko concludes.