The raspberry season will run for another few weeks, but blackberries will be available for a bit longer. Daniel Bobbaers of BelOrta in Borgloon says: "There aren't many raspberries to come off the field. It's all tunnel cultivation now. If the weather is good, they'll be available for another three weeks. We are fully in the greenhouse cultivation of brambles. That season will last another two to two and a half months."
Good and right
He indicates that the prices of blackberries are at a good level. "Between 1.70 and 1.80 is given for 125 grams of blackberries. For raspberries it swings around 1.10 and 1.20. This is the right price. It's 2.12 per 125 grams for blueberries at the moment."
There have been some complaints about raspberries this season, but Daniel doesn't believe this is completely fair. "I believe the average prices were right. They weren't great, but I don't think there was a huge dip. They were perhaps a little too low at the beginning of the season, but other than that they were fine. Blackberries were very cheap for a long time, from 35 to 40 cents per 125 grams. This pulled up a few weeks ago and now the price is fine again. The expectations are positive." He indicates that the open ground harvests are ending and that there is a switch to greenhouse cultivation.
For more information:
Daniel Bobbaers
Veiling BelOrta
Afdeling Borgloon
Kernielerweg 59
3840 Borgloon
Telephone: +32 12 67 01 00
Telefax: +32 12 74 50 71
www.belorta.be