In December it was too hot in Spain, which caused some vegetables to grow faster than normal. In January it was just too cold and the harvest failed to materialise. And that is annoying, because we need a lot of vegetables from Spain this year, says Roger Abbenhuijs of Greenhouse Horticulture Netherlands. “We need more from abroad because of the expensive energy.”
During this period it is too dark in the Netherlands for many vegetables. Nowadays we have lamps that provide enough heat and light to compensate for the lack of sunlight. “Normally we now also grow tomatoes in Dutch greenhouses. But this year it costs too much money,” says Abbenhuijs. That is why many growers have opted to leave the lights off this year. Otherwise the products will be too expensive.
In Spain, tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers usually grow in the fields around this time. Little energy is required for this. If the country had had an average harvest, there would not have been a problem this year either. “But then you are dependent on what the weather does and that is not helping this year,” says Abbenhuijs. “In the greenhouses you don’t have to worry regarding that.”
Vegetables on ration
Although the shelves in the Netherlands are less full than usual, the situation in Great Britain is even worse. Customers who want to buy tomatoes, peppers or cucumbers will only receive a limited number from large supermarkets, according to reports from the BBC.
We need not fear that image, thinks Wilma van den Oever of GroentenFruit Huis, the trade association of companies that are active in the sale of fruit and vegetables. “We understand that the biggest dip is over in Spain. It’s all slowly getting going once more.”
That does not mean that all vegetables will be back in the store tomorrow, that will probably take a while. According to Albert Heijn, there is still little to say regarding it. The supply that the supermarket receives from Spain currently differs per day.
Enough other vegetables available
Now that spring is in sight, production in the Netherlands will soon start once more. “Then everything will be available once more,” thinks Van den Oever. Until then, there are plenty of other types of vegetables. These are the seasonal vegetables, such as leeks, chicory, Brussels sprouts and kale. “Vegetables from the season are usually also the cheapest. Relatively speaking, of course, because everything is expensive now.”