It's a calm period for importers of Spanish vegetables. There are still certain vegetables coming to the Netherlands and Belgium, but now that the domestic volumes are increasing, retailers are switching to 'own' product. According to a Belgian trader the transition period is comparable to other years.
Transition
"As far as large volumes are concerned, the Spanish season is over. it's all done for products like peppers and tomatoes. Once there is Belgian produce, retailers quickly switch to the domestic production. In this way I think they're quite chauvinistic. In the Netherlands I believe they continue the import of Spanish product for longer. But at a certain point they all switch. I also think you have to stop importing if the quality of certain products reduces. Just like you can't start a season too early. The quality of the products has to be good."
Expensive courgettes
He is still receiving products such as courgette, broccoli and celery. He is reasonably satisfied with the prices. Broccoli is still getting between 5.5 and 6 Euro per box. This is all right for 10 pieces. Courgette is even expensive for this time of year. Six to 6.5 Euro is great. I think this will hold up for a while." The importer is generally happy with the entire Spanish vegetable season. "We can't complain about most vegetables. Cucumbers weren't great, but other than that it was good!"