First ‘peak week’ for Hoogstraten strawberries

The beautiful summer weather last weekend provided a boost to the production of strawberries. At Cooperative Hoogstraten the first peak in supply of the season occurred yesterday. “We had a volume of 405 tonnes for the auction clock,” Jan Engelen says. “This week we expect about 1,700 tonnes in total, so this will be the first ‘peak week’ for Hoogstraten.”

Most supply ever in a week in 2012

The volume is high, but not as yet the highest number ever for Hoogstraten. “The most supply ever per week was 1,900 tonnes, and that was in week 27 of the year 2012. The highest supply per day in the history of Hoogstraten happened last year at the start of July. We had a volume of 504 tonnes for the clock then.”

Over 1,000 tonnes

Last week the supply for Hoogstraten was 1,293 tonnes. “Next week we expect a regression, and we estimate the volume around 1,400 tonnes. For the coming weeks, expectations are that productions will remain over 1,000 tonnes per week.”

Prices are still strong according to Engelen. “Yesterday and today prices were at 3.50 Euro per kilo across all selections, including industry. Last week this was higher and came to 4.80 Euro per kilo.” He does not expect a decrease in the short-term. “Demand is still strong, especially domestic, Scandinavia and France are well on the market.”

For more information:
Jan Engelen
Coöperatie Hoogstraten
Loenhoutseweg 59
Hoogstraten - Belgium
Tel: +32 3 3400233
Fax: +32 3 3147844
www.hoogstraten.eu