"Improved pepper and aubergine prices can be maintained"

Tomatoes and cucumbers are still having difficulties, but peppers and aubergines are clearly having a better week than earlier this season. The prices for courgettes have also been correct at the moment, although they are now under pressure due to the beginning of the open ground season. Benny Cuypers of LAVA says more about the market situation and the expectations for the next few weeks.

"The prices on the market are correct this season," says Benny Cuypers of LAVA when asked about the situation in the courgette market. The production was high this spring due to the weather, and there was also lots of supply from Spain. "The Spanish supply has now decreased greatly, but the open ground courgettes have started slowly." The price decreased from 30 to 40 cents to 15 to 20 cents after a few weeks.

Aubergines
Aubergines are going through a pretty good week. At around 1.30 Euro the price was a lot higher than in recent weeks, when it was around one Euro. "Some demand from Russia and Spain has dropped out," explains Cuypers. "It looks good for the next few days and weeks." The area of aubergines is comparable to previous years. "Slightly more, but not a huge difference. More important than the area is the production. A less productive year can make a difference of around 10% just like that."

Pepper
"Pepper has also been doing better over the last few weeks. It had a very difficult start with reasonably large volumes in April when Spain and Israel were on the market too," says Cuypers. "When this supply stopped, around the beginning of May it started to get going." This revival was for all colours. "Green is now dropping in prices, and was around 1.30 on Wednesday. It has dropped from 1.70." Yellow and red are around 1.60. "These are correct prices." There has been a lot of production over the last few weeks. "We are now in a calmer period, especially for the red and yellow colours. I except us to be able to keep a hold of this," concludes Cuypers.

For more information:
LAVA cvba
Leuvensesteenweg 130 A
3191 Boortmeerbeek
tel +32 (0)15 50 42 50
fax +32 (0)15 50 42 60
www.lava.be
[email protected]

Author: Arlette Sijmonsma en Gertrude Snoei
Copyright: www.agf.nl