Last week, for the first time since January, tomato prices crept above the five-year average. With mid-prices of 2.19 euros for both loose tomatoes and TOVs, the average kilo price is nearing its usual range around mid-March in recent years. This is attributed to a price spike in week 11, as an overview with figures from the auctions of the Association of Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives shows. Gradually, the first volumes from unlit cultivation are being released, albeit still limited.
As for cucumber prices, the unlit season has been underway for some time. Here, there hasn't been a price spike, but the mid-price in week 11 did see a slight increase. The mid-price is still below the five-year average at 33 euro cents per piece.
The first (green) bell peppers are also being harvested. The mid-price here is following an upward trend similar to other years. The volumes, especially at the VBT, are still quite limited. Bell pepper cultivation in the Netherlands is significantly larger. The mid-price for green bell peppers reached 1.88 euros per kilo.
For lettuce, we are seeing a price increase after a dip in February. That's always a challenging month, but prices have found their way back up. Improved spring weather will also boost consumption. The average price per piece in week 11 was 43.9 euro cents.
Strawberries, too, are seeing the first spring cultivations cautiously starting production. The mid-price, in line with the five-year average, has slightly decreased. The mid-price per kilo is 9.40 euros for the Sonsation variety and 8.97 euros when considering all varieties together.
And then there are the greenhouse asparagus. They are gradually facing some competition from (forced) outdoor cultivation. The prices are in line with 2023. A kilo of packaged white asparagus fetched around 10.63 euros in week 11.