New garlic from Spain has been available on the German market for a few weeks now. "We started the new season in calendar week 25 and are now receiving very good quality produce from the growing region around Cordoba. Unfortunately, the rain came at exactly the wrong time this year, and the necessary heat arrived very late, so that the sizes are generally smaller and the net yields are therefore lower. Despite this, prices are very stable, whereas in other years there have always been downward price jumps at the change of season," summarizes Felipe Sturmberg, Sales Manager at JERSA Fruchtimport GmbH.
© Jersa GmbH
Insight into the garlic harvest.
The family-owned company based in Bergisch Gladbach has been primarily dedicated to the procurement and marketing of Spanish garlic for 39 years, but also offers Chinese produce. Sturmberg: "The new harvest has also begun in China, and the first new garlic from China will arrive here at the end of July/beginning of August. Prices at source have fallen slightly recently, but selling prices are roughly at the same level as last year. Freight prices and, in particular, the costs of customs clearance and the necessary import licenses have risen again in the past year. The available quantities and qualities have been good. Demand from German wholesale markets and food retailers has also been quite high, as fewer goods have come from Spain due to higher sorting rates to deliver acceptable market-driven quality."
© Jersa GmbHJörg Sturmberg (left) manages the family business together with his two sons, Felipe and Christian.
Fresh, local garlic on the rise
In addition to dried goods, Jersa GmbH also offers its customers fresh garlic throughout the year, sourced from Argentina, South Africa, Egypt, and, seasonally, from local German farms. "We are currently receiving excellent quality and large sizes from our producers. In line with the increase in demand, German supply volumes have tended to rise in recent years, and in addition to our main supplier, Pantiru in Lampertheim, we now also have several smaller producers with a few hectares, including two farms in North Rhine-Westphalia, who supply us. However, we are also noticing that the pressure on volumes has increased significantly during the domestic season," says Sturmberg. Once the domestic season is over, Jersa GmbH sources fresh produce from its long-standing production partner Jan Kruiswijk (Beemster Garlic) in the neighboring Netherlands.
© Jersa GmbHFelipe Sturmberg visits the producer. There have recently been slight price reductions for fresh German garlic.
Smooth transition for sweet onions
The family business's second main product is Spanish onions. Sturmberg: "The new harvest has now begun here too, and, as with garlic, the rainfall has had a negative impact on the size and net yields. Nevertheless, there was a relatively smooth transition from the old to the new harvest." In contrast to other years, he was offered less overseas produce in the past season. "In other years, our partners in Spain have always packaged smaller quantities from Chile to meet our needs. That wasn't necessary this year."
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Left: Dried garlic in storage. Right: View of the garlic field.
Overall, the business with sweet onions remains stable and consistent. "We mainly serve the wholesale markets, although we also supply the food retail trade. The closure of the wholesale markets in Düsseldorf and Cologne and the additional logistics costs incurred as a result of having to drive to several locations are also having a significant impact on us," he concludes.
© Jersa GmbH
Excerpt from the product range under the company's own brand, OSVI
For more information:
Felipe Sturmberg
JERSA Fruchtimport GmbH
Zum Scheider Feld 40
51467 Bergisch Gladbach
Phone: +49 (0)2202 980 860
Fax: +49 (0)2202 980 866
[email protected]
www.jersa.de
