This year Jasper Houtenbos and his cousin Bob started Brassica Trade, specialised in buying and selling open ground vegetables, mainly towards exporters and wholesalers. At the end of the year he looks back at the open ground vegetable year with satisfaction. "it's hard work, but the season was favourable for putting the company in the market and are satisfied with how it went."
"The cabbage supply isn't that big at the moment, partially because a lot of Polish harvest employees have gone home. The demand isn't that high either, but the market is in good balance and the sales are going well. In Western Europe it's slightly too warm for good consumption, but the Eastern European supermarkets are coming on the market quite early, mainly for the industry."
"There is also more demand for carrots. The demand for coarse carrots for processing is particularly good, but there is also some demand for the finer sortings from Eastern Europe, which indicates that their own production is at the end of the market. A country like Germany also has considerably less coarse carrot and cabbage," says Jasper. "The market for onions is going reasonably well. Eastern Europe is scantily asking for onions, but there is demand from Spain. The market for consumption potatoes on the other hand, is under pressure."
