The expectations of growers and rinsers are quite out of line. Growers exude confidence and try to copy the onion scenario on the carrot market. The flushers and handle are adopting a somewhat more wait-and-see attitude and have yet to see it. It is clear that something is shifting in the market.
The supply of carrots from temporary storage has almost dried up. This week, the DCA listing therefore switched to carrots from mechanical cooling. The supply of really good carrots from the refrigerator is not available yet. At current prices, farmers keep the refrigerator door closed. What is coming onto the market at the moment are mainly parties with a history of quality. However, growers do not feel the pressure to sell quickly. €200 per box also seems almost sacred to several farmers for a batch with ring rot, for example.
Rinsers have difficulty meeting growers' prices. It feels busier at flushers, but that is partly due to the holidays. The Eastern European employees have time off and several companies operate at minimum staffing or stop work completely between Christmas and New Year's Eve. In short, four weeks of work is spread over two weeks and then of course it quickly becomes busy.
Listing makes a step
In the meantime, trade remains sluggish. Growers with good product wait patiently and expect the price to increase. Due to quiet sales, rinsers do not really have to enter the market and are also partly run on their own stock. It will be exciting to see what will happen in the new year. Will the price of rinsed carrots increase and will demand from Eastern Europe pick up, or will the supply of mediocre carrots continue to dominate the market? The DCA quotation for both b- and c-peen has made a significant step this week and ranges from €28 to €30 per 100 kilos. The increase is partly due to a bit more mood on the market, but by far the most important explanation is the switch to carrots from mechanical cooling.