Tomato prices have been up at the VBT auction, but with an average price of just over one euro per kilogram, prices are still below the five-year average. A kilo of tomatoes on the vine brought in an average of over 1.14 euros in week 50, and a kilo of loose tomatoes brought in 1.08 euros, according to an overview of figures from the Belgian horticultural cooperative association.
Week 50's prices have also been higher over the past two years. The volumes of vine tomatoes are higher than last year. An explanation for this could be that slightly more fall tomatoes are being grown to fill the gap created by the elimination of true-lighted winter cultivation. The quantities delivered with loose tomatoes are lower than in the last two years. Compared to 2020, the volume this year is 47 percent lower.
The price of cucumbers reached incredible heights, with an average unit price in week 50 of almost 86 euro cents. This makes it the highest mid-price on the VBT clock for the whole of 2022.
Strawberry prices broke through the five-year moving average last week. On average, a kilo in week 50 yielded 4.53 euros. At week 49, the average kilo was still well above the five-year average at EUR 6.12. Recent low temperatures have been a real test for growers who want to be as energy efficient as possible but still want to plant strawberries in time for Christmas. In terms of quality, they occasionally have difficulties in continuing to produce good fruit, according to the December 9 edition of the Proefttuinnieuws. A minimum temperature of 30-35 degrees Celsius proved insufficient to grow good-quality strawberries since mid-November.
View all price charts on the Flemish Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries page with agricultural figures here.
See here all mid-market prices for week 50 for fruit and vegetables.