The cucumber market has seen a revival this week. For the first time this season, an improvement is seen in Dutch and Belgian prices, Joop de Hoog of Friskom says. Today, prices for size 30 cucumbers on the free market are around 25 cents. The 35-sized ones go toward 33 cents. The 40-sized ones are a few cents above that.
Mediation price
For the next week, the market doesn't look bad either. The mediation price will reportedly surpass 25 cents next week. "That information hasn't been confirmed yet, but it does give a limited number of growers some perspective. The question remains, of course, what has been pre-sold, and how long this price will linger."
After all, a revival such as this one isn't nearly enough to turn the tide in the sector. The bad situation on the cucumber market influences the whole chain: plant growers and seed breeders also feel the pressure. "It's a bit better now, but one swallow doesn't make a summer," De Hoog says. "Cucumber growers still can't pay for their expenses with their revenues. The bills are piling up, and the red figures below the line are increasing."
