"Netherlands: "Waiting for export demand of strawberries to increase further"

The Dutch retailers have all changed to Dutch strawberries. "At the moment we are waiting for the export to increase" Boudewijn van der Wal of Veiling Zaltbommel (Dutch auction house). "The signals are favourable and we hope that this week the demand from abroad will increase. Normally the interests from Germany start at about 1 May." The most important export markets in spring are Germany and Scandinavia. In autumn a lot also goes to England."

At the moment it is quiet on the strawberry market. "This is always the case around 1 May," the marketing and sales manager mentions. "The price is around 2.80 to 3.00 Euro and that is slightly higher than last year at this time, but then supply was larger because of the warm weather." The 'ideal strawberry weather' according to the trader 'cool nights and warm days'. The colder nights for the correct growth and the nicer days for increasing consumption."

According to Boudewijn the quality of the strawberries is satisfying. "And that makes work a pleasure. Therefore we expect an increasing demand. The supply from Spain is just about over in Germany and now there is space for our lovely strawberries." He says that at the end of May/beginning of June plenty of soft fruit will be in the market. "In two weeks time we will be able to offer the first red berries from glasshouse cultivation. After that in June the first large volumes of soft fruit will become available. This is the real summer fruit month" he concludes enthusiastically.

For more information:
Boudewijn van der Wal
Veiling Zaltbommel
28, Stationsweg
5301 KH Zaltbommel
Tel.: 0031 418 57 99 11
Fax: 0031 418 57 92 13
www.veiling-zaltbommel.nl