"Soft fruit month later than last year"

At Veiling Coöbra in Belgium the first blueberries were auctioned on 26 April. Are more volumes presented at the clock in the meantime? According to Philiep Willems, manager, the quantities are still small. "If we have 25 kilo in a week it is quite a lot." According to him everything is a little later than last year, because of the colder weather. Normally the volumes should increase somewhat in the coming week, but everything is four weeks later than last year. We expect to really start in the first week of July. The small volumes which are sold at the moment fetch a good price of about

Euro 2.50/125 grs."

Not only are the blueberries later than normal, also the harvest of soft fruit is later. Veiling Coöbra from Zellik have specialised in the past years on the marketing of soft fruit. Raspberries are still the largest volume, but red currants, blackberries and blueberries are increasing. In addition to popular product Coobra also has a wide area of organic berries, "With blueberries the share is about 75%" Philiep mentions. "We work with a large organic grower and he supplies an important part of the organic berries." The manager says, that the soft fruit area remains the same compared to last year. "For Coöbra this is at the same level. Not much can be said about volumes as yet this season. That will be dependent for a great deal on the weather conditions."

Buyers of the organic berries are mainly Belgian chain stores. Also some are exported. "We notice the demand for organic soft fruit is increasing locally and abroad annually."

For more information:
Veiling Coöbra
Philiep Willems
Tel 0032.2.481.08.84
Philiep.Willems@Coobra.be