German supermarkets carrying more organic cocktail tomatoes

After April's first week of turbulent weather, the Dutch organic greenhouse vegetable season is now fully underway. Tomatoes and bell peppers followed cucumbers and aubergines. December and January's cold weather cut Spain's season short. So there was a short gap in the bell pepper and particularly vine tomato market. "We might not have been able to deliver earlier, but our products were much in demand," says Coert Lamers of Nautilus Organic.

COCKTAIL TOMATOES

"The domestic retail demand for organic greenhouse vegetables has, fortunately, increased again. German supermarkets are stocking more and more cocktail tomatoes. It used to be almost solely TOVs, but the current trend is toward slightly smaller flavorful tomatoes." Looking at the UK trade, Brexit does not seem to have affected this organic grower cooperative this season. "It's been stressful for two years, but it doesn't seem to be too bad now. The phytosanitary certification requirements have been postponed from April 1, 2021, to January 1, 2022."

"There is more work on the customs side. However, the exporter we work with takes care of that. Also, the pallets must be heat treated before they may cross the border. It generally makes trade with the United Kingdom less flexible. We have signed the same contracts as in previous years. So, we are waiting to see how things develop. I don't expect too many problems," continues Coert.

ACREAGE

There is slightly less organic greenhouse vegetable acreage in the Netherlands this season. "Wouters Green used to grow two and a half hectares each of tomatoes and bell peppers. Those have fallen away. Originally a plant nursery, the Dutch grower decided to convert that area to bedding plants as well. This change was fairly well accommodated. That is because another farmer, Maatschap Van Luijk, had just started cultivating organic greenhouse vegetables."

"This company grows sweet potato, bell peppers, and vine and Sweetelle cherry tomatoes," explains Coert. Another Dutch company, Frank de Koning, is meanwhile trying something new in its greenhouse. This biodynamic farm is cultivating a few red-yellow striped Enjoya bell peppers. They are also trying out various small cherry tomatoes.

PLASTIC PACKAGING

Meanwhile, the issue of whether or not to package organic greenhouse vegetables persists. "The general trend is that we - consumers, retailers, as well as organic farming associations - want to get rid of plastic packaging. More sugarcane trays, for example, will be used for TOVs. With cucumbers, there is a demand for banding, although this product lasts longer in plastic. The plastic-free trend has been going on for several years. The COVID-19 pandemic has, however, seemed to put a slight damper on it," Coert concludes. (JH) 

clamers@nautilusorganic.nl