In Belgium, median prices for both loose tomatoes and TOVs rose slightly in week 40. For vine tomatoes, that still means a price that is below the five-year average. This year's prices are no match for those realized in the fall of 2022. Prices for the other large greenhouse crops (cucumber, sweet bell pepper, and strawberry) are also only barely above or even below the five-year average.
Cucumber average prices sank quite a bit last week, though they are in line with the five-year average and 2022 pricing. There is more and more Spanish product available. With the end of traditional cultivation in the Benelux, prices in Spain shot up last week. On Monday, the unit price there was already €0.70, while the VBT price average for week 40 was €0.334.
Bell pepper prices have been well above the five-year average in recent weeks and can even compete with 2022's high prices. But, after peaking in week 37, prices have begun falling. With an average kilogram price of €0.934, week 40's price is still just above the five-year average.
Greenhouse lettuce cultivation has started again, and the head lettuce price drop stopped in week 40. That price rebounded slightly to €0.44/head. It should also be noted that lamb's lettuce prices exceeded the five-year average again for the first time since June.
The upsurge in strawberry prices did not continue. That price has been seesawing in recent weeks, dropping to just over €3/kg last week. That is, overall, a below-average price for the time of year.
You can see all these figures on www.vlaanderen.be/landbouwcijfers and the VBT's fruit and vegetable figures for week 40.