"Nice weather, so a good butterhead lettuce year"

"Demand has been somewhat less this week because it has not been as sunny. However, up to now, 2018 has been a good year for butterhead lettuce", says Jan de Winter. He is a butterhead lettuce farmer from the Netherlands. "When it is sunny, and temperatures are high, people eat a lot of lettuce. Prices are good. There is, according to me, still a possibility of shortages. This is due to, among other things, problems with quality because of the hot weather."

Butterhead lettuce seems to be a product that runs into trouble when people are more prone to convenience. Jan has, however, also noticed a trend where people are paying more and more attention to what they eat. "Butterhead lettuce is a delicious lettuce variety. You can combine it with anything. It is good with a barbecue, in a salad, or as a side dish. People might be busy during the week and then choose convenience. However, on weekends or public holidays, people make a bit more effort again. Then, butterhead lettuce is a popular product."

Jan does not currently have any butterhead lettuce in his greenhouse. His sales are done via Dutch wholesaler, Van Oers United. "We have been steam-cleaning the greenhouse in the last few weeks. In this way, we ensure that we kill all possible germs. We can, therefore, grow on a year-round basis after a short break in cultivation. We are busy planting at the moment. At the beginning of September we will begin harvesting in full swing again", he explains.

At Jan's farm, the lettuces grow in the soil in greenhouses. These are two hectares in size. "Hydroponics is an option, but is quite expensive. You have to add a surcharge to your product if you want to switch to hydroponics. Growing in the soil also feels more natural", concludes Jan.