Onions are doing well, "I expect export figures to be high this week. Demand is coming from all sides. Africa, Panama, Brazil, the Far East, Italy, they're all joining in. The only place where export is low is the U.K. They don't want to pay the price there," says Wim Moerdijk from sorting and packing station Monie based in Nieuwdorp, The Netherlands. Monie processes 40,000 tons of onions annually, of which approximately 40% are first class onions.
"We do not know how things will unfold. High demand will remain until Christmas, but we will have to wait and see what happens when Senegal reduces their orders in January. For now it's only conjecture. Things have been quiet for red onions for a while, but they are now being more widely demanded," continues Wim. "In general the quality of the onions is good. Of course, there are some that are not of such good quality, but there are also some really high quality onions."
"The farmers smell opportunities and want more and more money, but I have the feeling that the trade sector is putting their foot down more and more and say when it is enough. Otherwise, the resistance from abroad will also increase. Growers are paid 18-20 cents, and if they have good yields and good quality onions, they can earn good money."
