Which vegetable has become more popular?

At the beginning of August it became clear that more and more vegetables are being grown on Dutch agricultural and horticultural land. More than 87.000 hectares consisted of vegetables in April 2017. But which vegetables have become more popular to grow over the years? A new top 5 of Boerenbusiness, compiled by CBS, provides the answer. 

Presented a few weeks ago Boerenbusiness, in another top 5, which vegetables are the most popular to grow. It showed that onions are by far the most grown in the Dutch agricultural sector. Has that vegetable also experienced the largest increase in recent years?

The top 3
No, the onion is not at the top of the list. In fact, the onion is not even in the top 5. It seems that this vegetable has always been popular and has not suddenly experienced a significant increase. Who gets to climb the highest step of the podium? 

The one that is head and shoulders above the risers list are the cucurbits. That vegetable was grown on 2006 hectares in the Netherlands in 180. That number increased to 2017 hectares in 1.170. That is an increase of no less than 990 hectares and a change of 550% compared to 2006. 

The silver medal goes to red beets. In 2006, that vegetable was grown on 360 hectares in the Netherlands. In 2017, that number increased to 950 hectares, an increase of 590 hectares. This means that the total increase, compared to 2006, amounts to 163,8%.

The lowest step of the podium is for the vegetable spinach. That vegetable was grown on 2017 hectares in the Netherlands in April 2.090. In 2006 that was only 1.170 hectares. So there has been a growth of 920 hectares. The percentage change compared to 2006 is therefore no less than 78,6%. 

Who else?
Sweetcorn lands just off the podium. This vegetable is in fourth place with an increase of 340 hectares. This brings the vegetable to a total of 2017 hectares in 920. In 2006 that was 'only' 580 hectares. In recent years, therefore, a percentage growth of 58,6% has taken place.

The fifth and last place, in the list with risers, is for celeriac. In 2017, this vegetable was grown on 1.920 hectares of Dutch agricultural and horticultural land. That is 690 hectares more than in 2006, when the total amounted to 1.230 hectares. This is an increase of 56% compared to 2006. 

Daler's top 3
The above 5 vegetables have made a huge surge in popularity. However, there are also vegetables that have become a lot less popular to grow over the years. Below are the 3 vegetables that have lost the most hectares in recent years.

At number 1 come the pole beans. In 2006, this vegetable could still be found on 110 hectares in the Netherlands. In 2017, that number dropped to just 30 hectares, an absolute decrease of 80 hectares. In percentage terms, that means a drop of 72,7%.

The second place is for legumes. In 2006, these could be found on 60 hectares of the total Dutch agricultural and horticultural area. That number dropped to 2017 hectares in 20, a decrease of 40 hectares. The vegetable thus shows a percentage decrease of 66,6%. 

The third and last place is for green cabbage and/or savoy cabbage. In 2017, that vegetable could still be found on 50 hectares. However, in 2006 that vegetable was still grown on 120 hectares in the Netherlands. That is a decrease of 58,3%. That equates to an absolute decrease of 70 hectares.

Top 10 biggest risers and fallers

Kimberly Baker

Kimberly Bakker is an all-round editor at Boerenbusiness. She also has an eye for the social media channels of Boerenbusiness.

k.baker @boerenbusiness. Nl

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