The new Dutch blueberry season has begun at berry grower Sil Moonen. Though cultivation in the Netherlands has increased significantly over the past decade, there is currently a turnaround, says the grower: "There's more milling than planting."
Sil has gotten rid of some of his nurseries in Germany and parts of the Netherlands, halving his cultivation area. "You can keep producing for a market and not meet cost prices or start cherry-picking. I chose the latter."
"It remains absurd that, in the fruit and vegetable sector, buyers determine your cost price. I used to export most of my berries to the UK. My buyer then told me that the supermarkets had issued tenders, which run from March 1 to September 1. The kilogram prices they were prepared to pay only apply to hobby farmers. I couldn't produce for that, so I politely turned them down," says Sil.
"Last year, I expanded my sales on the Dutch market toward a packer, something I hope to continue this year. Hopefully, the Dutch supermarkets will, for once, play along well to promote local berries. Though there's plenty of flaunting Dutch products every year, as soon as people can get cheaper berries elsewhere, they just as easily switch."
"Recent berry prices have been good. Spain had a tight supply, with less water availability playing a big part. As a result, prices stopped falling to dramatic levels. Poland, too, seems to have quite a bit of night frost damage. And many German growers are struggling with the increased minimum wages, which has forced some to quit," Moonen explains.
"We're currently harvesting Dukes, of which plenty are on the bushes. But, in the Netherlands, far fewer are generally being harvested. Last year was a good production year, but I estimate this year's harvest to be at least 25% lower. We'll see what it all yielded at the end of the season."
"The marathon has started again. There are still about 100 Dutch growers, but not all will make it to the finishing line. Still, I believe those who do make it have a good future. There are, after all, not many of us left," Sil concludes.
