"France: "Enormous cauliflower volumes cause low prices"

At the moment the reverse is the case from the beginning of the year when French cauliflower was very expensive because of small supply as a result of the very cold winter. "The quality of the cauliflower is very good, but there is just a shortage of cooling transport and too much product. The quantity can be sold, but cannot be transported at the moment" Theo Kampschoer of Kampexport International says.

"During January 15,000 crates of 6 cauliflowers each arrived at the auction. At the moment there is ten times as much. 150,000 crates of 6 cauliflowers each" Theo explains. During the last week of January 5,000,000 cauliflowers were expected, but only 2,973,348 were harvested. For week 10 4,500,000 were expected, but the supply is 6,768,116 items, however.

Supply expectation
This week for the first time French cauliflowers were destroyed, but according to Theo is that also the result of transport only being available in limited quantities.

"The low prices are not the result of the demand, because that is good, but supply is too much and cooling transport is not available."

Also considerable quantities of cauliflower are being supplied to the industry. The price of the cauliflower is about 75 cents (carriage paid Holland) to one euro for the 'supers'. Theo expects to have French cauliflower available till the middle of May. "Volumes will be high for the time being, but traditionally the demand will increase towards Easter. That could still cause a recovery."

Theo, who has a few brothers also active in the fruit and vegetable trade, moved to

St.Pol de Leon in 1961 in order to be mainly active in the export of French fruit and vegetables. Kampexport export all over Europe including Eastern block countries.

For more information:
Kampexport International
[email protected]