The total value of horticultural production in the Netherlands fell by 9 per cent year-on-year to €700m in 2009, with even sharper declines for fresh fruit and vegetable production in the country, according to new figures published by industry association Productschap Tuinbouw.
In its report, the organisation revealed that Dutch fruit vegetable sales for the year fell by 17 per cent compared with 2008 to €390m, while annual turnover for vegetables was also down, by 18 per cent on the previous 12 months at €330m.
Sales of greenhouse products decreased by 15 per cent, amounting to €1.1bn compared with the €1.3bn sold during the year before.
Onion sales were the only positive exception for the Netherlands in 2009, the figures suggested, rising by 8 per cent year-on-year to €70m.
But mushroom producers were not so fortunate, witnessing a 12 per cent annual downturn in sales to €230m.
'Almost across the board, prices fell as a result of disappointing demand at home and abroad,' said a spokesperson for Productschap Tuinbouw.
'The economic crisis of 2009 meant that consumers kept their purse-strings tight and, due to currency fluctuations, exports to a number of markets declined.'
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