“We have had a busy start to the week because of the winter weather and the cold temperatures. At the weekend people started hoarding a bit for the cold weather that was coming. As a result, Monday was a good sales day. It is now a bit quieter, because people do not like to go outside in the cold and these types of temperatures are not pleasant for the market people,” says Perry Verstraeten of Wholesale De Blaeij.
Sunday is Valentine's Day, but at De Blaeij it is never much busier than normal around this day. “Sometimes when the asparagus is early, people go to the restaurants, but nothing is open this year. Soft fruit is also almost impossible to obtain at the moment. There is little Spanish supply at the moment and at the auction I saw a box of Belgian ones for almost 8 Euro,” says Perry. "Those prices are much too high, so I don't think we'll notice much of Valentine this year either."
“What is going well at the moment is top fruit. Many shopkeepers and market vendors are looking for good apples and when they find them they keep buying. We buy our top fruit from our own growers, at the auction in Geldermalsen and at the Belgian Fruit Auction. This year we once again have a wonderful product. Kanzi, Maribelle and the new club apple Morgana are doing very well this year. Jonagold is also selling, but you can see this apple is losing some ground. Goudrenetten and red Boskoop are also doing well here in Belgium,” Perry observes.
According to the trader the apple prices are at a good level, but for pears it is a drama. “The prices of pears are at a very low level. The pear growers can earn almost nothing like this” In addition to top fruit, the citrus season is also going well. We have beautiful Nadorcotts from Morocco and they are selling well. Just like the hand and pressing oranges. In general, every product continues to run fine. This week it will be a bit quieter, because of the cold weather, but we certainly cannot complain. ”
For more information:
Perry Verstraaten
De Blaeij 
Lange Reksestraat 8
4538 AZ Terneuzen (Netherlands)
Brugse Steenweg 7/40
9940 Evergem (Belgium)
+31(0)115-613234
info@deblaeij.nl
www.deblaeij.nl