The six lean months are giving way to the six bountiful months at Belgian transport company Gebroeders Michiels. With the onset of spring and the arrival of unlit Belgian greenhouse vegetable crops on the market, this Belgian exporter's summer season kicked off again. "Our drivers can finally get back to work. It's full steam ahead until August/September," begins Barry Michiels.
Gebroeders Michiels' new truck.
Barry explains that the company primarily focuses on exports to the German wholesale market. They work with vegetables like leeks, cabbage, and carrots during the winter, but not to the extent of the current greenhouse vegetables. "It's the week before Easter, and since the week before last, we've resumed shipping cucumbers, bell peppers, and eggplants. Winter was undoubtedly tough for, I think, every exporter. The switch to greenhouse vegetables changes the fleet, though. We're immediately dealing with entirely different volumes."
"In the winter, Spain dominates in that area. But once Belgian products' volumes start increasing, there's a complete switch," Barry continues. That is what happened a couple of weeks ago with cucumbers, eggplants, and bell peppers. The volumes of tomatoes are also starting to arrive. "Since last week, the supply has tripled, so things are truly starting to move. There's still competition from Spain, but as soon as we can start with the new harvests from Belgium, those can be slightly more expensive for customers."
Extra Costs
According to the exporter, the quality looks good. "Everything is tip-top. We can't complain. We're getting decent prices for bell peppers, with yellow and red going for around €2.50/kg. Green is a bit cheaper, but we can still work nicely with that. Eggplant is generally less expensive, which makes it more challenging," says Barry.
"There are so many costs involved that it is increasingly difficult to make a profit. If I buy an eggplant for €0.70 at auction, it actually costs €1.20. You have to add the cost of the box and logistics, so you end up at double what you paid. That quickly becomes €1.50 for clients because you also have to make some money. Everything seems to keep getting pricier, so prices must be somewhat higher. For us and growers."
Michiels is looking forward to a positive summer season. "We're definitely optimistic. Winter is over; now is the time to make up for that and make some money. We have too much staff in the winter and too little in the summer. But it's the same every year. We're used to it by now, and we're delighted to be at it again until September," he says.
Sweet pointed peppers
Despite these many annually recurring factors, the trader sees some market changes. "Sweet pointed peppers seem to be gaining more and more ground. They're gaining popularity, making them a full-fledged variety in our assortment. Their season starts at the end of this week, so they're still in the starting blocks. However, it will continue until November, so we have high expectations. Good volumes are coming."
"It's a matter of waiting to see what happens with the lettuce varieties in the summer, though. We used to sell many of these during the summer, but now it genuinely depends on the weather. If that's bad, we still do much towards Germany, where they only grow lettuce on tables in good weather. That trend has grown in the last two years, so, with us, sweet pointed pepper volumes replace lettuce volumes in the summer," concludes Barry.
For more information:
Barry Michiels
Gebroeders Michiels
50 Kempenare Street
2860, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
Tel.: +32 (0) 475 262 482
barry@gebroedersmichiels.be