Onion pools: spreading risk over the season

The onion market fluctuates throughout the season. By participating in the PPA onion pool, you receive the average price over the entire season, without having to track every market movement yourself.
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Uienpools

3 steps to participation in the onion pool

Getting acquainted
We discuss your cultivation situation: soil type, desired variety, expected volume, and delivery preference. This way, we know which buyers are the best match for your batch.
Register and sign up
You register for the pool of your choice. Registration is open until mid-August. All terms and conditions are clearly set out in advance, so you know what to expect.
Coach
PPA sells your pool onions throughout the season, as long as the quality permits. We take your delivery preference into account and keep you informed of market developments.
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Choose the pool that suits your situation

Storage or immediate delivery: both forms offer certainty, but in a different way. 


Storage pool
You first harvest and store your onions, after which PPA sells them throughout the season based on the established pool quantity.
Afland pool
You deliver your onions immediately after harvest. No storage costs, immediate clarity regarding sales and price.
Twee tractoren oogsten gewassen op een veld.

How does the onion pool work?

PPA has a pool for yellow and red onions, with a split between storage and off-field pools. There is no pre-sale or floor sale: from mid-August, the pool quantity is fixed based on the number of participating growers and hectares. All pool onions are subsequently sold throughout the season according to that fixed quantity, so that you benefit from the average price rather than daily market fluctuations. The pool committee meets regularly to adjust sales, ensuring your interests are continuously considered.

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Transparency via the pool committee

The PPA onion pool is managed by the pool committee. The committee consists of two representative growers and two PPA employees (management). This ensures that, as a participant, you always know what is happening to your batch and on what considerations decisions are based.

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Drie soorten uien naast elkaar: geel, rood en roze.

PPA visits 
more than 1,000 growers 
annually to broker 
all types of onions.

Twee mannen in blauwe shirts praten en kijken naar een tablet.

The PPA Onion Pool offers growers:

  • An average seasonal price: Not a daily price, but spread over the entire sales season.
  • Risk diversification: Less influence from market peaks and troughs.
  • Freedom in volume: Participation with a portion or the entire proceeds.
  • Tailored to your business: Taking into account off-market or storage and delivery time.
  • Independent sales: PPA sells to 25–30 different buyers, thereby having a broad sales market.
  • Transparent management: Sales and settlement under the supervision of the pool committee.
  • Clear agreements in advance: Clear terms and working methods.
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Persoon schilt uien met de hand naast een kist vol uien.

Our customers speak

“PPA actively monitors the market and helps think about sales. We inspect the batches in the warehouse together. A pleasant partner, in good and difficult years.”

Thijs Broekhuizen
Grower

“The personal contact makes all the difference for me. Jelle knows my company, and I know what I can expect from him and PPA. That inspires confidence.”

Martijn van Es
Grower

“A pleasant collaboration for almost twenty years. Patrick is quick to respond, visits regularly, and knows what is going on. At PPA, lines of communication are short and everything is well organized.”

Sven Hoogland
Hoogland Contracting Company
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Read more about onion pools

Houten kist met uien en rode uien op straat
1 July 2026
PPA announces onion pool prices for 2025 harvest season
Read more
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Frequently asked questions about the onion pool

Do you have a question about onion pools? The frequently asked questions are listed below.

Until when can I sign up for the onion pool?

You can register until mid-August.

Can I participate with a portion of my proceeds?

Yes. You are free to participate in the pool with your entire or partial onion yield.

When will I receive payment?

With the off-field pool, you receive payment after the pool ends, at the end of October. With the storage pool, PPA usually pays an advance in early spring to growers who have already delivered their batch by that time. Full payment, including the final price, follows after the pool meeting at the end of the pool, usually at the end of June or beginning of July.

What is the difference between a retention pool and an offshore pool?

With an off-field pool, the onions are delivered immediately after harvest. This pool runs until the end of October, after which payment follows. With a storage pool, the onions are first stored and sold throughout the season until the last batch is sold, usually at the end of June or beginning of July. This is followed by a pool meeting where the prices are announced and payment takes place. PPA helps you determine which form best suits your situation.

Man in blauwe polo poseert bij een bak met uien in een loods.

Participate in the PPA onion pool

The onion pool provides peace of mind. You know in advance the conditions under which you participate, PPA manages sales throughout the season, and you receive the average price without having to monitor every market movement yourself.

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