Some of the vegetable growers this year can finally speak of a 'normal season'. The price level for different vegetables was regularly good this year and at the moment the tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines and lettuce are also doing well. "In previous seasons a considerable amount of cucumbers and tomatoes were destroyed, up to 1000 pallets per day, but thankfully, this season hasn't been as bad," says a Belgian trader.
He gives an overview of the vegetable prices on September 12 at the BelOrta auction. "The courgettes have been cheap recently and the prices are between 3 and 5 cents for the Flandria extra. There is both open ground production and production from the greenhouse. Class 2 is being destroyed due to the high production." Aubergines on the other hand have a good price. "Quite expensive actually. The highest prices are around 1,80 per kilo which is considerable. Aubergines have been doing well for two weeks."
Cucumbers and tomatoes
He says cucumbers have done well this season. "At the moment the product is slightly higher again and the price has dropped from 35 cents last week to 25 cents today." The supply of cucumbers is increasing, but that of tomatoes is decreasing. "They now have rising prices, both bunches and loose. Vine was around 60 cents last week and now they're 70 to 75 cents. When it comes to loose tomatoes around 70 cents is being paid for the main varieties. Loose even reached 85 cents. Last week it was still 45 cents."
Lettuce weather
Lettuce growers haven't been left dissatisfied this season either. "The lettuce prices are good. They were 50 to 60 cents today. At the moment it's summery weather, which is lettuce weather. The entire season has been good for this vegetable. With good prices that were regularly around 35 cents, growers can't complain. What is striking is that the alternative lettuce varieties aren't doing as well today in price level. The Lollo Bionda, Lollo Rosso and Radicchio don't have prices as good as heads of lettuce. Field lettuce isn't that expensive either, but this product almost never does well with warm weather. Field lettuce is also very export sensitive."
Less cauliflower
Cauliflower has been especially expensive, but is currently going through a drop in price. "On Friday it was still 2.50 and now it's 1.50. The production is suffering from the drought, so less was being supplied. I expect the prices to rise again this week. As soon as it starts to rain the production will increase again."