I don't expect us to be overfed with import tomatoes in March
The supply of Canary tomatoes isn't at too high a level at the moment. "The plants on the Canary Isl…The supply of Canary tomatoes isn't at too high a level at the moment. "The plants on the Canary Islands, but also Morocco and Spain, have done their job well. Now the night temperatures are significantly lower, which means that the supply will be limited over the next few weeks. I don't expect us to be overloaded with import tomatoes in March," says Gert-Jan Slobbe of Fortuna Frutos.
"Like many other products the demand over the last two weeks wasn't fantastic. The set agreements towards retail and food service were going well, but the trade surrounding this was on a back burner. I expect a reversal in the market now. Dutch tomatoes aren't here yet and we have an early Easter so we're looking towards the coming weeks with confidence," says Gert-Jan.
Difficult cucumber season
The Canary cucumber season is close to finishing, but it wasn't an undivided success. "The season was satisfactory in quality, but the prices weren't great. The season started badly for prices and besides a small revival the prices didn't rise above the danger zone. This is especially concerning for the producers, as it is now the third year in a row," says Gert-Jan.
Besides tomatoes and cucumber, Fortuna Frutos is currently also trialing Santa and Intense plum tomatoes. The courgettes on the Canary Islands have now outgrown the testing stage and they are now included in every boat load. "Our courgette cultivation is still small scale, but has gone exceptionally well as far as quality is concerned."
The Canary tomato season at Fortuna Frutos traditionally runs until the end of May. "Then we often stop because the market situation no longer allows it, as far as quality is concerned we could continue for longer. We still have three important months to go," concludes Gert-Jan. The Dutch sales office has seen its function as a specialist grow in importance in recent years.