"Belgium: "The cherry season will only really start with the late varieties"

The early cherry varieties have been on the market for a while. "But for us the season actually only starts with the late varieties," Karel Belmans of the Belgian Fruit Auction says. "The situation is very tense. Every day we wait with fear to see what the weather will be like."

He mentions that the better part of the early varieties was damaged. "Luckily here in Limburg we have the later varieties, such as Kordia, Lapins, Regina and Sweetheart. These are really the varieties with which we score. I expect that we will really start next week. Then we expect large volumes."

The cherries are sold locally and abroad. "Some are sold now, but the export will really start next week. Of course we need volumes and we therefore hope, that the weather, despite the expectations, will cooperate. Actually it can go anywhere and we could still have a good cherry season. In any case there is European demand."

"Prices are at a good level, between four and five Euro for good quality cherries of 28mm of varieties such as Samba, Kordia and Korvick. Sometime the price was even in excess of five Euro. We can say these prices are good and it is expected that they will remain so."

For more information:
Karel Belmans
Belgische Fruitveiling
82, Montenakenweg
3800 Sint-Truiden - Belgium
T: +32 (0)11 69 34 11
F: +32 (0)11 68 54 60
www.bfv.be