The lettuce market is not going well. "The prices are very cheap and little is leaving for France," says Geert Vilez of Demargro. "It isn't that there is an extreme amount of production. I'm not saying there is little, but there is not an excess. Despite this it remains very cheap."
A lot of choice
Despite the warmer weather it is calm in the sales. "As far as France is concerned: this country has a lot of its own production and doesn't need much from other countries. Of course, there is another aspect that influences the sales: there is more choice than there used to be. Back then there was only butterhead lettuce, now there is lollo rosso, lolla bionda and oakleaf. What is striking is that they aren't doing much better. Everything is now between 8 and 15 cents. The production of those lettuce varieties is reasonably high at the moment. Not just for us, but also in other European countries."
Flare in cauliflower
The market situation for other vegetables isn't much better. "Last week there was a flare in cauliflower because there was a shortage due to the weather. But that is over now too. The leek has a decent prices, but it won't make growers rich. 45 cents was given for it today. The young leek is getting started a little now."
He expects a scenario compared to that of last year for the next while. "It's a bit depressing at the moment. Tomatoes are around 40 cents, but that is better than it was. There were weeks with 32 cents. We have also had two or three weeks with tomatoes in which less than half the price was given at auction compared to last year."
For more information:
Geert Vilez
Demargro BVBA
Tombrugstraat 11
8850 Ardooie, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)51 74 70 75
Fax:+32 51 74 58 11
www.demargro.be
For more information:
Geert Vilez
Demargro BVBA
Tombrugstraat 11
8850 Ardooie, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)51 74 70 75
Fax:+32 51 74 58 11
www.demargro.be