The mild temperatures aren’t unfavourable for the sales of greenhouse vegetables, according to Arie Middelburg of GreenMatch, which focuses on sales advice for growers and buyers. “Because of this, there isn’t too much supply in certain product groups, and that keeps prices somewhat level.”
“In cucumbers, we’re on the right side of the line now, with prices around 35-40 cent for the 40s and 30-35 cents for the 35s. Growers need these prices after a bad spring,” Arie says. “The aubergine market, on the other hand, doesn’t offer much fun. This year, the area was once again expanded, and although productions per square metre aren’t very high, pricing remains poor.”
The tomato market had high productions in the past two weeks, but those volumes will start declining as we head for late July. “Prices are therefore rising to higher levels. Southern Europe currently asks for more than it produces, and we’re seeing a price recovery. Loose tomatoes were recently at a level around 55/60 cents, and are now heading towards 70 cents. The vine tomatoes dropped to as low as 40/35 cents last week, but those prices are now rising to 50 cents and higher again.”
Arie classifies the bell pepper market as an ‘all or nothing’ show this year. “Regarding production, bell peppers are always very sensitive during setting, but this year, yields per square metre vary very strongly, from six ounces to 1.8 kilos on national average, and some individual growers sometimes have even higher variations. That means there are moments of high supply, but also of scarcity, when additional volumes have to be bought to fill the programmes. Prices are now a bit lower at levels that aren’t too great for red bell peppers with prices around 1 euro. Prices of green bell peppers are around 1.20 euro, and yellow and orange bell pepper prices have now risen to around 1.30 euro.”
For more information:
Arie Middelburg
GreenMatch
middelburg@greenmatch.nl
www.greenmatch.nl