Demand for organic greenhouse vegetables is rising. Organic growers’ cooperative Nautilus Organic sees demand from the UK, Scandinavia and even domestic growing steadily. “We receive a lot of requests for large volumes. Regarding new customers, we’re not really expanding any more, but the volume for existing customers is increasing considerably,” says Coert Lamers, account manager for greenhouse vegetables.
“In 2008, demand from the UK still appeared to be decreasing sharply because of the crisis,” according to Coert. By now, the deck has been dealt again. “Demand has been recovering since last year. Most requests are for the traditional bell peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes, but the sweet, pointed pepper is also doing better. This upward trend can also be seen domestically. You can see that the volume of greenhouse vegetables is increasing, along with the current organic supply in supermarkets.”
“Elsewhere in Europe, such as in Scandinavia, a rising line in the trend can be seen as well. And that will probably continue like that. A decline is not visible anywhere in Europe. The US is also gradually becoming an increasingly larger buyer. Quite a bit of bell pepper volume is sent that way,” the account manager continues. He has noticed a few extra percent in supply every year. For example, just this year another member joined Nautilus with 6.8 hectares of greenhouses.
Pay close attention to crops
In practice, it has been difficult to estimate how volumes and prices for greenhouse vegetables will develop. That was proven last year, when storm and hail damage caused major losses, especially in conventional vegetables. Diseases and pests also regularly disrupt things. “Fortunately, no greenhouse growers have experienced nuisances yet at the start of the Dutch season. Yet these only remain snapshots. Lice tend to turn up, especially in bell peppers. As an organic grower, it’s always a challenge to stay one step ahead of diseases. Growers therefore recommend paying as close attention to your crops as possible, so that you can intervene organically. At a later stage, you can’t do much beside sitting by and hoping the pest is finished as soon as possible,” Coert explains.
Scarcity on the bell pepper market
Assuming its a regular season, in which there are no special circumstances regarding climate or pressure form diseases, Court expects positive developments for the blocked bell pepper. “Although the total area has shrunk slightly in the Netherlands, demand remains good, just like last year. Retailers are constantly contacting us; everything has been going well as planned. The same is true for the pointed pepper. We received more requests than in previous years, so I expect quite some scarcity on the market.”
Future in market-oriented cultivation
The thoughtful production method benefits pricing of Dutch products, according to Coert. “The Netherlands is distinctive because we grow oriented to the market. Cooperation between parties and retail who adjust the product to demand are doing well. We grow market-oriented, and don’t just push the product onto the market. In Spain, it sometimes happens that a lorry is sent to the Netherlands based on commission. Dutch trade thinks more about the consumer, and has a market-oriented product based on cooperation with retail. That’s the future. Combined with a flexible attitude and a customer-friendly mindset, the Dutch product is noticed abroad as well. We Dutch people often work just a bit harder to unburden the customer. For example, from our distributors we occasionally receive requests to supply a bit more, when a customer’s shop sales are going quicker than planned. That can be quite challenging — after all, we’re working with a fresh product — but we practically always manage.”
Close connection Dutch and Spanish season
Mid-March, the first cucumbers, aubergines and (sweet, pointed) bell peppers were harvested in the Netherlands. The smaller types of tomatoes followed in late March, and the vine tomatoes followed mid-April. Coert: “According to the first reports from Spain, the bell pepper is slowly reaching its finish there. That means the Spanish and Dutch season are closely connected. On the other hand, a number of Spanish cucumber suppliers have cucumbers available year-round.”
In the past two years, demand for organic greenhouse vegetables has been growing quicker than supply in the Netherlands. “That’s partly due to the increased publicity and the food trends which are central to living consciously, which organic naturally provides in. Organic hasn’t been a hype or a trend for a long time, it’s a proper lifestyle.”
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Coert Lamers