The trade in second-year onion sets is turning out to be a disaster for some growers this year. Buyers cannot be found, especially where the quality is disappointing. In extreme cases, the onions are therefore plowed under. The sector still has to deal with a considerable volume of onion sets.
In the Netherlands, 6.243 hectares of second-year onion sets are being grown this year, according to figures from Farmer&Bunder. These are mainly located in Zeeland (2.531 hectares) and North Brabant (1.511 hectares). Although the area has decreased by 4,2%, yields are at a much higher level. If we calculate with a seasonal average of 45 gross tons per hectare, we arrive at almost 281.000 tons of onion sets.
Many onion sets still available
It is difficult to determine how much of this volume still needs to be processed. Insiders agree that there is still a considerable amount of onion sets on the market. Gijsbrecht Gunter, chairman of the Holland Onion Association, also does not dare to make any statements about this. "The bulk of the onion onions have now been harvested, but not all of them have been traded yet," he says. "Planting onions are not exported far and are partly also grown for industry due to the high percentage of dry matter. We do not have figures about this segment and how much product they purchase."
What the onion onion growers are struggling with this year are quality problems. "The quality is only mediocre," Gunter knows. "Bacterial rot is especially an issue. Infestations of up to 20% are reported in practice. These are incidents, but the fact is that the disease pressure is high. You also notice this in the sowing onions. It has also been dry this year. irrigated and that also does not help the quality. In extreme cases, plots with too many defects are therefore plowed under."
No buyers
There are also arable farmers who take a different tack. In West Brabant, everyone was able to grow onions in the field last weekend turnips for 50 cents per kilo. In week 32, the Goes stock exchange recorded an ex-land price of €5 to €7 per 100 kilos. Dry from the shed that is €7 to €8. In practice, such a price is often not even feasible. Buyers are not interested and the first early sowing onions are already appearing. A price has now also been announced: €7 to €8. A year ago, the price for seed onions started at €13,50 to €15 and onion onions were also listed in that price range.
Great Britain is the largest customer of Dutch onions at the moment. Onion sets – also of a lower quality – are currently also being sent to peelers in Poland, although only in small quantities. According to the most recent export figures, this country has purchased a measly 200 tons. Because much is traded privately, the figures are not representative. What also hinders onion exports is the availability of refrigerated containers and the high costs involved.