The high carrot price, which was paid for late carrots from the 2017 harvest, continues. Now that the first new carrot is being harvested, this is good news. The question is, however, whether this price will remain.
The first carrot is already being harvested in South Limburg and new carrots have also been harvested in the Noordoostpolder. Currently, approximately €30 per 100 kilos is paid for new B carrots. Last year less than a third of that price was paid during this period, because there was little or no carrot available at the time.
In this way, the price of carrots continues to reach the high level of the previous season ended up. The carrot is of good quality and is also of good size. On the other hand, coarser carrots are still little available and the harvest of C carrots is gradually getting underway.
Empty cold stores
However, the good price can be explained. Several traders report that the cold stores are empty. This means that the first carrots currently mainly go to the supermarkets. It is still unclear whether this price can be maintained. In addition, the supply will increase every day in the near future.
However, there are factors that indicate a continued good price. Although the market is fairly focused on 'own country first', there is still some demand from Belgium for Dutch carrots. However, Germany already has its own carrot available and from next week the stronger carrot for overseas destinations will also be available.
Equal area
The constant acreage can also be a price-supporting factor. Slightly more carrots are being grown this year, at 2.690 hectares (+190 hectares). However, the area of winter carrots has decreased by almost 200 hectares, preliminary figures show CBS figures. The carrot market ended last season in euphoria and now that not much has changed, that scenario may repeat itself.
The position of the storage carrot is currently very variable. Some plots are in worse shape than others; This is largely due to the drought. The crop is generally in much better shape than last year. However, turnout is lower in the province of Limburg. The harvest (Flevoland and Zeeland) is also expected to start in the next 2 weeks.