The vagaries of an extreme growing season have left their mark on the quality of many onions. Flevo Onions also saw this last season. In the end, all parties managed to find a place in a market that was gaining momentum.
Flevo Onions is a standalone onion pool that mainly supplies to Waterman Onions in Emmeloord. The company has a short and long custody pool. These both start with the delivery of the main harvest at the end of September (week 40). The short pool stopped in week 48 (end of November). The long storage pool continues until the end of the season. The short pool consists mainly of arable farmers who want or can store their onions for a short period, because potatoes will be stored in the same shed later.
The net pool result for the 2020 harvest is €15,21 per 100 kilos. This includes a Global Gap fee and after deduction of pool costs. The stock market price in Emmeloord for this period is €16,55 per 100 kilos.
High tare
On average, the tare percentage of all lots is 9,77%, which is high. Pool manager Remko Wilms attributes this to the extreme growing season. "Every area has its own problems. In Flevoland this is mainly fusarium. In Overijssel and Drenthe you mainly see cracked onions and falling bald onions. In Groningen, batches have sometimes been harvested and loaded in conditions that are too dry, causing clods to end up in the batch. This is possible. cause damage that will stain."
An even turnout is of course important for sorting, but also for delivering good quality, Wilms saw. "On the sandy soil in the northeast this was less of a problem than on the clay soil, apart from where drift damage played a role. Varietal differences are also noticeable. This is especially noticeable with bare onions. In the long storage pool, quality is also a challenge. We receive this season, lots below 5% tare, which is special. The short storage pool contained 2 very late delivered lots with many bolts (thick necks), which puts pressure on the average.
Resources in rising market
During the start of the Arctic period, the onion market was characterized by a very tame mood. The Emmeloord stock exchange recorded €40 per 9,50 kilos in week 100 and rose rapidly to €5 in 19 weeks. "The growers who delivered early batches are in a different position than those who delivered last, because the market was very different then," Wilms looks back. "In addition, the quality and color sometimes did not match market demand. Ultimately, all parties found their place."
Wilms expects the volume in the short storage pool to increase for the 2021 harvest year, given the expected expansion of cultivation in the Northeast Netherlands. "Together with Flevoland, this is the working area of the pool. In the northeast there are relatively many growers who consciously do not choose to deliver from the field, but have options to store and dry them in their potato storage. In October or November the onions are removed and (starch) potatoes can be added. Exactly how much volume ends up in the pool also depends on the market next summer. If prices are relatively high, there is less interest."
Quality remains challenge
The onion processor has had hectic weeks. The train stopped abruptly at the beginning of December and 2021 has now started quietly. It remains to be seen how the sales season for the long storage pool will shape up. European destinations, and countries such as Brazil, must take up the baton. Wilms certainly sees opportunities for good quality onions. Especially the parties with some problems, which are still present here and there, are looking for an owner. Especially because the less critical destinations are now dropping out and Poland is showing little interest this season. As the storage season continues, it becomes clear that the germination inhibition during this warm late summer has not always been effective. There are still plenty of challenges in the second half.