With him, a cauliflower currently costs 5.98 euros, while the one from the greenhouse itself costs 7.98 euros. Yet they are still being sold. “You’re up for it or not,” he says. “If you want good food, buy something like that. There is still a demand for it.”
His customers are used to something and have something to spend. Still, this is an exceptional price, says Schenkeveld. “People who buy cauliflower more often are now shocked.”
Extreme weather and energy price
We get a large part of the cauliflower, broccoli, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, but also courgettes that are in the shops in the Netherlands from Spain this time of year. Tomatoes are grown in the Netherlands, but less than before because of the high energy prices for horticulturists.
The harvest in Spain is disappointing. The weather was erratic last year: first there was a hot, dry summer, then suddenly frost and then heavy rain.
Limits
And that leads to less supply and higher prices: about 25 to 50 percent, according to the industry association GroentenFruit Huis. Some stores have therefore set limits: a maximum of two peppers per customer. Because there is simply too little supply.
How fast prices rise depends on the purchasing policy of a supermarket or shop, explains market analyst Wilco van de Berg of the trade association. “There are supermarkets that make agreements about quantities and prices in advance. Those who don’t buy on the free market, where prices are currently high.”
So if you want to eat cauliflower or iceberg lettuce, you pay a lot for it. Home-grown vegetables, mushrooms, chicory and leeks are widely available and have not become extremely expensive. “There’s plenty of food,” says greengrocer Schenkeveld. “You can also eat sauerkraut and onions.”
The trade association estimates that the high prices for Spanish vegetables will come to an end. Better weather should help, and in the Netherlands the weather will also be warmer and lighter for longer and more can be produced here.
Everything more expensive
Foods were on average 17.3 percent more expensive in January compared to the same month last year. Outliers were milk, cheese and eggs (+27 percent) and oils and fats (+32 percent).
Nevertheless, we in the Netherlands are still cheaper than the average in the EU. So are Belgians, Germans and French much more expensive. Bread and fish in particular are much cheaper, but so are potatoes, vegetables and fruit.
