Cauliflower is a product that needs export. “When neighbouring countries don’t have shortages, we don’t have a right to exist,” says Jan Kors of grower’s association White Pearl. Although the name White Pearl might make one suspect they mostly deal with white cauliflowers, the association also grows orange, purple and green cauliflower. Sales of these are on the rise. “We’ve seen demand increasing. Italy and Spain have a lot of demand for green cauliflower. The orange and purple cauliflower are also meant for export. The Netherlands doesn’t have much demand for these yet,” Jan says.

The coloured cauliflower season ended mid-October. The season for white cauliflower will last until at least late November. The dry and warm summer didn’t affect quality. “We were able to irrigate well, quality of the cauliflowers is fine,” Jan explains. “As it’s looking now, the season will last until late November.”

The season is therefore not over yet, but looking back, Jan says it’s been “a very good season.” Despite the price slump in October and the difficult sales in the summer months, it “wasn’t all that bad.” Prices for cauliflowers have started recovering in the final days of October. “We’re now around 45 cents, and it increases by a few cents every day. I expect we’ll soon be at the regular level again, around 60 cents. Because growers were a bit delayed in their productions, a lot of product arrived on the market at the same time in October. The cold stores were also filling up. But considering the price increase that was started, the stores will now be empty again.”

The cauliflower acreage is and remains stable according to Jan’s expectations. “Growers won’t easily start or expand the production of cauliflowers. We’re dealing with a lack of workers, and not enough land is available either. As a grower, you’d rather have a slight shortage than too much product. Broccoli, for instance, has been dramatic the entire season,” Jan concludes.