VN Trading Reports Steady Mushroom Sales Despite Seasonal Trends
This summer has proven to be an anomaly for mushroom sales, which typically experience a slump during the warmer months. “Whether it’s because Poland has pushed up the price a bit or the supply of other fruits and vegetables is lower due to the weather extremes, I don’t know, but it’s very different from other years,” says Mark Joosten of VN Trading from Velddriel.
While mushrooms have gained popularity as a meat substitute in recent years, they are not traditionally seen as a summer barbecue staple. “In really summery weather, people are more likely to go to the pool or the terrace and opt for a quick bite. For mushroom sales, it is therefore fine that we have had long fresh weather. Actually, sales of all varieties are running satisfactorily. Sales of brown mushrooms have been good for weeks. At this time of year, one always sells a little fewer shiitake, but that demand will pick up later in autumn,” Joosten explains.
Overcoming Supply and Labor Challenges
Reflecting on the recent market dynamics, Joosten notes, “Some 8 to 10 weeks back, we did have a dip in sales. This was anticipated by the grower, so there is now slightly less supply. Incidentally, that was partly necessary to cut back a bit on production, because otherwise you can’t get the mushrooms off the beds due to a lack of staff.”
The increase in the minimum wage has significantly impacted mushroom farms, as picking mushrooms is labor-intensive. “You therefore see that great strides are being made in automation. A number of farms have already converted to this. With such innovations, it always takes a while until the teething troubles are fixed, but I am convinced that this development will continue,” Joosten observes.
Industry Consolidation and Future Outlook
Despite considerable consolidation among mushroom growers in recent years, Joosten believes this trend is far from over. “We still have a lot of ‘daddy-mama’ farms in our sector, which keep their business going only by picking with the immediate family. But you see that when these growers come of age that there is often no succession. As a result, many smaller growers drop out. In recent years, more and more medium-sized growers have started organizing their own marketing, but they are also increasingly being taken over by the big nurseries.”
Van Namen Champignons, a well-established name in the mushroom industry with a 60-year history, produces approximately 110 tonnes of white mushrooms, 40 tonnes of chestnut mushrooms, and about 2 tonnes of oyster mushrooms each week. “This makes us quite a big player in the Netherlands. All the mushrooms we trade come from our own sites,” says Joosten. “We supply a wide customer base, from German and Dutch wholesalers to customers who supply French supermarkets. We also still export to the UK.”
Packaging and Future Developments
Contrary to a growing trend away from plastic packaging, VN Trading continues to utilize plastic containers. “With us, the bulk still goes out the door in a plastic container, whether it’s blue or green or some other color. We don’t really care what kind of packaging the mushrooms come in. As a supplier to many supermarkets, we deliver according to the customer’s wishes,” Joosten states.
Looking ahead, Joosten is optimistic about the future of the mushroom sector. “We are working on new construction and hope to start that within the next year and a half.”
