The start of the Belgian asparagus season has not been going as many traders had hoped. There's always great anticipation for this quintessential seasonal product, but for now, prices remain at a very high level. "We are currently working with purchase prices that simply do not allow for large-scale operations," explains Geert Baecke of Tino's Fruit.
"We do offer it, but instead of 1500 to 2000 kilos per day, as in other years, we are now at 300 to 400 kilos per day," continues the business owner from the Flemish town of Knokke-Heist. "The purchase prices are currently around 17 euros, so you have to sell them peeled for 18 or 19 euros. No restaurant wants to put it on their menu at those prices. For comparison: last year was much warmer and we had prices around 10 euros. That made it much more interesting."
"I have understood, also from the Netherlands, that there will be more supply from Monday. In Mechelen, I also saw that there was slightly more supply than on Monday. It seems that it is gradually picking up and prices will slightly decrease over the next two weeks, but then a new problem arises." Or actually a combination of two problems, Geert notes. "On one hand, Easter falls on the weekend of April 1st this year, which is early. On the other hand, we should have transitioned from greenhouse asparagus to full-ground asparagus under covers by that time. However, due to the heavy rainfall, it was not possible, or only at a later time, to go onto the land to place the covers. As a result, I expect a gap in supply in about 3 weeks. This coincides exactly with the run-up to Easter, when demand in Flanders normally explodes."
For Geert, these are fluctuating weeks with the start of the asparagus. "Now very high, then a bit lower, and then sharply up again. After that, the pressure will be somewhat relieved. Prices traditionally remain high until Easter, but then they also quickly drop. Demand wanes somewhat and prices often halve. Look, at the end of the day, the season will turn out fine. Now you pay more than other years for a month, and after Easter, you pay less than in other years. Overall sales often remain the same. It's just a challenge that everything is happening at exactly the wrong time now."
Tight margins
However, the challenges for Tino's Fruit are not limited to asparagus alone. The wholesaler observes that everything remains expensive at the moment. "It all really depends on the weather. Last year, there was already much more supply, but products like cauliflower are simply slow to start. We see this in many products, and soon, when the weather is nice, everything will come to market at once, causing prices to plummet. For the moment, however, we are dealing with prices that are quickly 30 to 40 percent more expensive than last year."
And these are mainly reflected in the margins, Geert explains. "I just don't dare to ask too much. If you look at strawberries: they went today for 7 euros per box. If I then have to calculate everything, you're at 10 euros for a box of strawberries. If I ask that of my customers, they'll beat me up. So, I have to work with minimal margins, making earning almost impossible. Add to that the fact that personnel costs in Belgium have increased by 12 percent in 2024, and there's little left at the end of the day. I'm certainly not earning 12 percent more to compensate. Don't get me wrong, I also don't want prices of 2 euros. But everyone needs to be able to make a profit. That's the goal, after all. Ah, we're just hoping for good weather soon. That can save everything. More supply will come, and people will quickly reach for a beautiful product. We'll wait and see."
For more information:
Geert Baecke
Tino's Fruit
Sluisstraat 55-57
8300 Knokke-Heist, Belgium
+32(0)50 612201
geert@tinos.be
www.tinos.be