The trade in carrots remains difficult. The supply is too great in proportion to the demand. Eastern Europe is still pretty good on the market, but that's where it ends. It is looking to get some work, according to flushers.
The price difference between the new carrots from Southern Europe and the carrots from storage in the Netherlands is relatively large. According to insiders, the demand for Dutch carrots therefore remains somewhat intact. That is also one of the few bright spots on the carrot market. Margins are razor thin at the moment and demand is limited by a relatively large European stock. Gaps - which create mood in the market - just don't want to fall.
What the hell gives
Carrot prices vary widely. A grower with very good carrots near a washer - who still needs some carrots - can, with a lot of luck, still make €40 per box. If you are further away and/or the quality is not excellent, the price will drop rapidly. "It's a test load of washing and if we like the quality, we make an offer," says a washer. "Nine times out of ten you have carrots. Growers would like to get rid of them." The DCA quotation for B-carrot this week amounts to €4 to €8 per 100 kilos. Most trading is done at the bottom of the quote.