The current fruit trade market is facing challenges, according to Vincent Schoen of Freshlink. The De Meern-based importer discovered an unexpected market for South African Williams pears this year and is now preparing for the upcoming South African citrus season.
© Izak Heijboer | FreshPlaza.com
Freshlink commercial team, flnr: Vincent Schoen, Ties Bakker, Maikel van der Garde, Piet Hein Rietveld
© Izak Heijboer | FreshPlaza.com"We had high expectations for the lemon season, with substantial volumes arriving. However, the market seems to be shifting slightly, meaning there will still be plenty of lemons available," Vincent explains. "Due to the announced trade tariffs and the unstable global market, more producers are redirecting their supplies to the European market. From June onwards, we expect a steady supply. Quality will again be crucial, as it has been challenging to maintain the right quality in recent years."
Photo right: Maikel and Ties in the hall with Grapefruit RSA
"Grapefruit supplies remain consistent. We mainly receive larger sizes, which are selling at good prices. For oranges, we focus on Valencia and Navel varieties, and we anticipate larger-sized fruit this year," Vincent continues. "Last year, we began importing mandarins and now receive a container every week. We focus on the Nova and Leanri varieties, avoiding Clementines whenever possible. The color is still somewhat pale yellow, which is not ideal for exports to Eastern Europe, but prices remain reasonable for now."
Significant demand for Williams Pears from Eastern Europe
The South African pear season has also been successful for Freshlink. "We started with Williams BC, following a great season last year. We had similar volumes this year, but noticed that Italy was not taking Williams' pears. Fortunately, we saw increasing interest from Eastern Europe, which was new for us. This shift allowed us to maintain strong sales to customers in Eastern and Central Europe," Vincent says.
This year, Freshlink minimized its involvement with Dutch top fruit. "We previously held a strong position with Lukassen pears, but due to quality issues this year, we scaled back, selling less than 10% of the usual volume. Although the market has been favorable for growers, quality concerns posed too much risk for us."
"Grapes have performed reasonably well from South Africa and South America, and now we are entering the short Egyptian season. Demand for white grapes is strong, and while Indian grapes are typically lower in quality, they are selling well due to balanced market conditions," Vincent notes.
Market for Ivorian mangoes faces pressure
Exotics are also a core part of Freshlink's range. "Avocado prices have been under slight pressure, but the market fluctuates weekly. Fortunately, quality remains good," Vincent adds. "The Ivorian mango season is about to begin, but prices are already under pressure before the first containers arrive. We hope the quality will be good enough to achieve decent prices."
Freshlink primarily serves service providers across Europe. "Our main focus is on the Eastern European market, but we also supply Central Europe, including Romania, Croatia, and Slovenia, as well as customers in Germany, Spain, and France," Vincent explains. When asked about Freshlink's competitive edge, he keeps it simple. "We don't focus on branding. Instead, we aim to keep costs low and maintain flexibility."
And the biggest challenge? "Quality remains the most critical aspect in our sector. When quality is strong from the start, everything down the supply chain works better. Previously, we could find buyers for lower-grade class II products in Eastern Europe, but that is no longer the case. Even wholesale markets are becoming more selective, and customers need to differentiate themselves," Vincent concludes.
For more information:
Vincent Schoen
Freshlink
Veldzigt 60A
3454 PW de Meern
Tel: +31 (0)30 30 75 772
vincent@freshlink.nl
www.freshlink.nl