This season's Dutch greenhouse lettuce market has its ups and downs. "There have been good and not-so-good moments. The lettuce market has been far tougher in the last ten days. But other vegetable prices have dropped too," says Henk van Doorne, who also markets some fellow growers' lettuce.
With his American truck, Henk is ready to get the wares on their way.
"I expected lettuce prices to remain fairly stable, but I guessed wrong. Prices fluctuate almost daily. Jumbo lettuce prices are currently at about €0.30 to €0.35, with butterhead lettuce hovering at around €0.30. When costs aren't too crazy, that's still a reasonable price. However, you don't come out ahead, given the current fertilizer, gas, and packaging prices."
"Demand fluctuates wildly. One week, customers need a lot of lettuce; the next, almost nothing. That complicates things," Henk explains. "When the Sahara storm hit Spain, the Germans turned their gaze on us. The storm had quite an impact, but now the worst of its aftermath in Spain is over. So, they'll soon not need us anymore."
"Other than that, there's occasionally some demand from places like Scandinavia and the Middle East." Henk does not think this summer's lettuce supply will be all that big. "And, in the winter? I daren't say anything about that at present," he concludes.
For more information:
Henk van Doorne
Van Doorne Imex
60-62 Noordlandseweg
2691KM, 's-Gravenzande, NL
Tel: +31 (0) 174 417 989
Mob: +31 (0) 626 068 284