Last week, the cucumber price soared above the five-year average after weeks of slender prices. The tomato price aligns with that five-year average, while the strawberry price has commenced a nosedive. However, in comparison to previous years, this trend for strawberries is not unusual. This is evident from a summary of median prices at auctions affiliated with the Union of Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives. As production picks up, leading to gradually more volume on the market, the strawberry price is descending from great heights.
Tomato production remains limited as well. For week 12, this results in an average kilo price for vine tomatoes that is almost identical to that of week 11. Just over 2.16 euros is comparable to the five-year average. The price was higher in the past two years, though.
At this time last year, cucumber prices began a very serious dip. For now, the traditional post-winter price decline is less severe, and the price is even climbing for the second consecutive week to an average piece price of 39.6 euro cents. This brings the price back above the average, a position it has been below since mid-January.
For lettuce, the price is now also above the five-year average. The price movement is quite similar to cucumber, although the price increase here has been steadily ongoing for longer.
What is notable is a revival of the asparagus price. The price for a kilo of packaged asparagus rises by nearly 4 euros to just over 14.5 euros. A kilo of unpackaged asparagus records just over 12 euros for the entirety of week 12.
View all VBT median prices for week 12 for vegetables and fruit here. Want to see the price charts in full? You can do so on the agricultural figures page of the Flemish Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries.