Sector agrees with area forecast

The total area onions in the Netherlands increased slightly this year (+0,5% to 35.200 hectares). The area of ​​sowing onions decreases by 3,9% and amounts to 25.650 hectares. The cultivation of onion onions is increasing (relatively speaking) sharply (+17%); this means a total of 9.140 hectares. The onion sector already saw this shift coming. We asked 4 onion experts for their opinion.

André Boot, seed and onion onion supplier at Hazera:
"I wonder whether the figures are correct. The large growers in the southwest that I have spoken to have all sown less; in some areas even a decrease of 10%. It is true that there are more onion sets. There was a surplus of plant material, which is offered at low costs. Normally you pay €60 to €80 per 100 kilos of starting material, but this year it was sometimes €30. Some seed onion growers have switched to onion sets at the last minute. The area is decreasing throughout Europe , which created a surplus of onion sets."

Leon van Meir, Van Meir Onions & Potatoes:
"When you drive around the south-west of the country, you notice: far fewer sowing onions and many onion onions. Growers have long been unsure whether to sow, and onion onions are a bit more difficult to force. Weed control is simpler and you have your money sooner. I expect that more onion onions have gone into the ground, especially in Zeeland. A lot of onion onions are usually sent to Eastern Europe. The acreage there is decreasing considerably, which means that companies are left with planting material. However, the cultivation is now having everything against it; a late planting date, no good structure and drought. An onion set cannot cope well with that. The crops do better on the sandy soil. Planting was done early there and can be irrigated."

Remko Wilms, Waterman Onions:
"In the province of Flevoland, the onion area is stable and occupies a permanent place in the cultivation plan. In Drenthe and Groningen we see an increase in the area of ​​sowing onions and this can offset the reduction in the southwest. Also in the east of North Brabant and Limburg. Onion cultivation is also increasing there; east of Eindhoven and towards South Limburg. I think the acreage figures are well explained. Given the price difference between yellow and red onions, we expect slightly fewer yellow and slightly more red onions. onions have been sown."

Jaap Jonker, De Groot & Slot:
"In March and April it became clearer that many onion onions were on offer. The yield of first-year onion onions was good last year, which meant more could be sold. In recent years there has been a shortage of planting material. A number of growers have switched from sowing to onion onions were switched due to problems with fusarium and white rot. This is also reflected in the CBS figures. Since the price of onion onions was low, growers also switched. A slight decline in sowing onions was expected. However, sales of seed did not lower, because fewer units have been sown. Not many growers choose this. This is the case with primed seed; this share has grown from 12% to 18%. However, fewer units are sown."

"The early onion onions are being fully lifted and most of the wintering onion onions have been harvested. Buyers hope that there will not be a gap between the early and late onions. Last year, good quality seed onions were still being processed at the end of June. This year the market is clean, which means less there is pressure in the market. I expect that onion onions will be brought forward. The companies that purchased onion onions at the last minute are predominantly free growers. This means that there are more free onion onions, although you probably won't notice this in the market. In addition, winter onion sets have not been planted due to the wet autumn. A variety like Troy can also be planted in February."