Specifications DCA Benchmark Price - Package price onions

DCA Market Intelligence publishes each week a benchmark package price onions for the sizes 35-50 mm and 45-65 mm, 50-70 mm, 60-80 mm and >80 mm. The specifications of these benchmarks prices are described below.

Product description

Quality

Onions that meet the requirements and the descriptions in VN/ECE-Norm FFV-25: In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the tolerances allowed, the bulbs must be:

intact
excellent: The product affected by rotting or deterioration to the extent that it renders it unfit for consumption is excluded
clean, practically free of any visible foreign matter
free from damage due to frost
sufficiently dry for the intended use (in the case of onions for storing, at least the first two outer skins and the neck must be fully dried)
without hollow or tough necks
practically free from pests
free from damage caused by pests affecting the flesh
free of abnormal external moisture
free of any foreign smell and/or taste. 

Classification

The onions are classified in two classes, as defined below:

(i) Class I

Onions in this class must be of good quality. They must be characteristic of the variety and/or commercial type. The bulbs must be:

firm and compact
free from externally visible shoots
free from swelling caused by abnormal vegetative development
practically free of root tufts. However, for onions harvested before complete maturity, root tufts are allowed


The following minor defects, however, may be permitted, provided they do not affect the overall appearance, keeping quality, shelf life, and presentation of the product in the package:

a slight defect in shape
slight defects in colouring
light staining that does not affect the outer skin, provided it does not cover more than one fifth of the bulb’s surface
superficial cracks in and partial absence of the outer skins, provided the flesh is protected


(ii) Class II

This class includes onions that do not qualify for inclusion in Class I but satisfy the minimum requirements specified above. The bulbs must be reasonably firm. The following defects may be allowed, provided the onions retain their essential characteristics regarding quality, keeping quality, and presentation.

defects in shape
defects in colouring
traces due to rubbing
slight marking caused by parasites or disease
small healed cracks
slight healed bruising
root tufts 
stains that do not affect the outer skin, provided they do not cover more than half the bulb’s surface
cracks in the outer skins and partial absence of the skins over a maximum of one third of the bulb’s surface, provided the flesh is not damaged

The Dutch AVZ conditions (source: Groentenfruithuis) apply to the onions

Sizing

Size is determined by the maximum diameter of the equatorial section

35 - 50 mm
45 - 65 mm and 50-70 mm
60-80 mm
> 80 mm

Colour

Onions taken into account for this benchmark price must have a colour that is typicalfor Class II onions

Official control mark

Onions taken into account for this quotation do not have to be certified

Quantity

The price that the trader has paid or received during the week from Friday 00:00 CET of the previous week until Friday 00:00 CET of the current week for onions as described in this document, excluding provision and VAT.

Timing

Picked up until next week’s Friday 23:59 CET

Location

Ex. works Dutch sorter/packaging company

Unit

Price in euros per 100 kilogram

How price input is collected

Price input (mutations) is collected on Friday until 13:30 CET. DCA Market Intelligence approaches contributors who are active in the market and in the area as specified in this document.Both a low (from) and a high (to) price are requested. If a contributor only enters one price level (single price), then this is regarded as both the low and high price. The price reporters of DCA Market Intelligence enters their prices into the Price Reporting System with their possible market comments.

Input analysis, processing, and publication

The Price Reporting System calculates an average price from the price input of the contributors. This is calculated according to the following method:

First, an average price is calculated for all "from prices." If a contributor's "from price" deviates more than 25% from the average "from price," it is excluded from the range. The same procedure applies to the "to prices." The lowest remaining price becomes the "from price" of that week, and the highest price becomes the "to price" of that week. For each size, a "from" and a "to" price are published on Friday around 14:30 CET via SMS and on the website of Boerenbusiness.nl. This online platform is also part of DCA Market Intelligence. This, along with a brief explanation, the range of contributor prices for that week, and the corresponding number of observations, is included.

If the described procedure cannot be applied for any reason, the management of DCA Market Intelligence decides how the final benchmark for that week should be determined or whether to publish a benchmark price for that week, providing a justification.

Version: February 2024