The market gardeners’ association LTO Glaskracht said on Wednesday that Dutch growers are already feeling the bite of sanctions against Russia.

Association chairman Nico van Ruiten told Radio 1 that growers are afraid to export their fresh produce and the prices are already falling. Bell peppers and tomatoes now fetch just 5 euro cents a kilo.

The problem began last week with a ban on the import of fruit and vegetables from Poland on the basis of ‘food safety’.

Dumping

Polish market gardeners are now dumping their produce in Germany where there is already too much on offer, leading to massive drops in prices, according to Van Ruiten.

No measures have yet been taken against the Netherlands, but the Dutch growers are worried their produce will be stuck in lorries at the Polish border.

Uncertainty

This uncertainty is being inflamed by the EU’s economic sanctions against Russia, Van Ruiten said. Growers are worried payment for their produce will not be forthcoming.

The Netherlands is the biggest exporter of fresh produce to Russia, sending an annual €600m in vegetables and fruit and €350m in cut flowers.