At Teeuwen Telers in Helden, Limburg, the new parsnips are once again rolling off the belt. "We started last week, which is a week earlier than last year. Demand is reasonable, although there is still Spanish product on the market," says Geert Teeuwen. He is the only grower in the Netherlands harvesting day-fresh parsnips between July and May. The recent drought has not posed a problem for the Limburg-based grower. "We're able to irrigate well, that's our advantage. We're well adapted to that here on the high sandy soils. So the quality is top-notch again."
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The Teeuwen brothers began growing parsnips in 2007 and have since grown alongside the market to a total area of around 40 hectares. "Last year, we didn't expand further. The biggest growth phase is now over," says Geert. "The introduction of fresh packs has really boosted parsnip sales in recent years. More parsnips are now sold in freshness packs than loose in shops. That has certainly raised awareness of the product, but it's clear the strongest growth has now passed."
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© Potentieel
"Growing parsnips isn't easy. It's not like growing an ordinary carrot. This year, because of the heat, the crop didn't germinate properly and we had to re-sow," says Geert. Teeuwen Telers is among the largest conventional parsnip growers in the country. Even before they began growing parsnips—in fact, since the 1990s—the company has also cultivated rettich. "We've been harvesting that for a month now. We were extremely early this year. For sales, however, that wasn't ideal, as there was still plenty of Italian and German product on the market."
In addition to Dutch and Belgian supermarkets, traders and exporters also know where to find Teeuwen Telers for radish and parsnips. "Because we harvest fresh daily, we offer a unique product. You won't find stored parsnips here," says Geert. The real surge in parsnip demand will come later in the year. "It's great to offer the new harvest now, but you can't compare these volumes to those in autumn. Our winter programs begin in October, but our peak traditionally comes just before Christmas."
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For more information:
Teeuwen Telers BV
Hazenakkerweg 6
5988 NJ Helden
+31 (0) 627-311 025
[email protected]
www.teeuwentelers.nl
