Despite some zucchini growers being busy with crop rotation and availability being low as a result, the prices for courgettes are not high in Europe. The supply of outdoor product has been putting pressure on the price for a few weeks now. "There are only a few companies that prefer indoor produce and are also willing to pay," says grower Pieter-Jan Vellekoop.
Prices have been low for the past three weeks. "In the greenhouses, people are busy with crop rotation, but not outside," says zucchini grower Pieter-Jan Vellekoop. "First there was little, but now there is enough. This leads to low prices. "Vellekoop cultivates 1.1 hectares. He sells to The Greenery.
Open ground
Leaving aside price levels for a moment, the season is a fairly good one for Vellekoop. The production is doing fine, quality is good and the yield is only slightly behind last year’s. "Only the price we can’t control." The courgettes under glass face stiff competition from outdoor cultivation. "Inside yields better quality, but no one is looking at quality," says Vellekoop.