Spring is starting slowly. Products such as cucumbers and aubergines are, increasingly, showing up on the market. Both of these products' are of excellent quality. According to Frits van der Meulen of the Dutch Quality Control Agency, KCB, no significant problems with regards to quality have been encountered in the trade.
Bell peppers are still streaming in, in large, volumes, from Spain. There, cultivation is slowing grinding to a halt. This is causing a decline in the quality and shelf life of these bell peppers. Frits says they are finding more damaged and deformed products.
Quite a few bell peppers are also not making the cut due to rot. This has to do with the product's current short shelf life. There is also still a lot of tomatoes being imported. Their quality is still reasonably good. The quality of Dutch tomatoes is excellent.
When it comes to full soil vegetables, Van der Meulen says they see that Brussels sprout cultivation is coming to an end. A decreasing amount of these vegetables are available. There is very little problem with this product's quality. This is also the case with chicory. Here, quality is also generally good.
Finally, Frits says they regularly come across leeks in the trade channels. The winter has not been severe, and so, the leeks 'suffered' less. In general, the leeks are of good quality.
Source: KCB