The soft fruit season is well underway at The Greenery. "There's plenty of summer fruit, but the vacations have started, so it's always a matter of waiting to see what sales will do," says this Dutch company's senior product manager Rob van der Weele. "An important point of attention is that labor costs have risen sharply everywhere, so we must realize higher prices."
"Most greenhouse strawberry cultivation is at a standstill with only Inspire still producing, but that, too, will be done soon. There's supply from the summer greenhouses and rack and outdoor crops. However, due to the hot weather in June, those volumes are smaller than they should be. The weather undoubtedly affects quality. The fruit ripens faster, and the (heavy) rains sometimes cause quality issues. Dutch supermarket sales are good, though, despite inflation," says Rob.
"With raspberries, open field cultivation is in full production. They have good quality and are selling well. With the high personnel costs, prices should be higher, but that's not always achievable. The blackberry crop is also doing well. Our VON variety, a delicious blackberry, is in demand."
The Dutch blueberry season has started at The Greenery. "The first picking has been sorted. The quality's good, and demand for Dutch berries has begun. With redcurrants, the summer variety Junifer's harvesting is progressing nicely. We'll begin picking the Rovada storage berries in a few weeks. Here, too, current sales are good," Rob concludes.
For more information:
Rob van der Weele
The Greenery Growers
Mob.: +31 (0) 622 482 293
Email: [email protected]
www.thegreenery.com