“Strawberry market was disappointing in past three months, but now recovering”

During the first three months of the year, the strawberry market was disappointing, according to wholesaler Kees Verheij. He expects an increasing demand towards Easter. “In my opinion, strawberry prices were mediocre, but I think they’ll increase significantly this week. Super-markets are no longer buying Spanish, and have now completely switched to Dutch product, and besides, as we’re headed towards Easter, there will be more demand.”

Kees mostly supplies greengrocers and market vendors, and the soft fruit sales play an important part in that, especially during the summer months. According to the wholesaler, it’s becoming more difficult for these types of companies. “Supermarkets are becoming increasingly more powerful, and take up the entire supply. Only when there’s a surplus of product, will it be dumped on all sides. This disrupts the market considerably.”

Although Kees has to import soft fruit during the winter months, he is a true promoter of Dutch product. “My motto is: Don’t buy foreign product when there’s also domestic product,” says the wholesaler who has an office at the Forepark in The Hague. He is worried about the increasing soft fruit cultivation under glass domestically. “I’m afraid that at one point, especially for strawberries, we’ll reach a saturation point. But so far it hasn’t been too bad.”

For more information:
Fa. Corn. Verheij en Zn
Prinsengracht 79
4233 EV Ameide
Tel: +31 (0)183 601 457
Mob: +31 (0)6 53 35 56 98
c.a.verheij@planet.nl