The Belgian grape season has started again. It looks very different from what it used to. Now the season lasts from mid July to mid October. 25 to 30 years ago they were available almost all year round. At the moment the Ribier grapes are on the market. The Leopold III and Muscat will follow in August.
Older generation quits
Most Belgian grape growers are around 50 or are past 70. "There aren't really any new growers joining in recent years. The areas have also become smaller. Only grapes that have been grown under heated glass are supplied to Lejeune. There is practically nothing under cold glass." Francis indicates that he has had great years as a grower and a trader. "A good example: in the 70s and 80s Belgian grapes were on the market 12 months out of 122. Fantastic! In the years after that the season often lasted from May to February. There were also more varieties back then. Now the Ribier and Leopold are mostly grown. I expect that Leopold will be grown for a while still, but there are only a few growers of Ribier. They will quit eventually. It is very labour intensive, producing courgettes, tomatoes and cucumbers seems to be easier. The job of a grape grower may no longer be attractive."
High
He indicates that as the import of grapes increased, the cultivation in Belgium decreased. "There is now competition all year round. Grapes come from all over the world. 20 years ago Italy didn't arrive on the market until September. You can't win against them. The price of the Belgian varieties are also higher. Especially in the first weeks, we are close to 20 Euro in sales due to the smaller supply. When August starts the prices go down a few Euro, but it is still high compared to imports."
For more information:
Francis Charlier
Lejeune NV
Strijbroek 3 - magazijn 22/26
2860 Sint Katelijne Waver
T. + 32 (0)15 31 69 31
F. 32 (0)15 31 40 49
www.nvlejeune.be
info@nvlejeune.be