Cucumber price revival, but one swallow doesn't make a summer

The cucumber market has seen a revival this week. For the first time this season, an improvement is seen in Dutch and Belgian prices, Joop de Hoog of Friskom says. Today, prices for size 30 cucumbers on the free market are around 25 cents. The 35-sized ones go toward 33 cents. The 40-sized ones are a few cents above that.

Finally the cucumber market is improving. Prices have gone up this week. The size 40 cucumbers were sold for 50 cents in Belgium, and in the Netherlands the price was between 30 and 40 cents, depending on the trader, Joop de Hoog of Friskom says. "The mediation prices for this week were good for the 35 sizes as well." Crop rotation plays a part as well. "High wire cultivation rotates from the beginning of July to mid-July. Growers who plant twice, have emptied the greenhouse around June 20, and usually planted during the past weeks. That also causes a small gap, although it's not much." Production was lacklustre last week due to low irradiation, which still has a bearing on this week. In addition, the great weather stimulates consumption, and a number of growers in the United Kingdom and Germany are busy with crop rotation. "The German median price is higher than here, but those differences are decreasing more and more."

Mediation price
For the next week, the market doesn't look bad either. The mediation price will reportedly surpass 25 cents next week. "That information hasn't been confirmed yet, but it does give a limited number of growers some perspective. The question remains, of course, what has been pre-sold, and how long this price will linger."

After all, a revival such as this one isn't nearly enough to turn the tide in the sector. The bad situation on the cucumber market influences the whole chain: plant growers and seed breeders also feel the pressure. "It's a bit better now, but one swallow doesn't make a summer," De Hoog says. "Cucumber growers still can't pay for their expenses with their revenues. The bills are piling up, and the red figures below the line are increasing."