Belgian tomatoes are in the shops again. The LAVA-auction offer a varied assortment loose tomatoes and tomatoes on the vine. The varieties may change, but the segments within Flandria remain a solid base for trading. Each segment has its specific feature for taste, colour, size and shape to satisfy the various requirements of the trade and the consumer.
According to LAVA, the umbrella organisation of Flandria auction-houses, the total picture of areas show a slight decrease of loose tomatoes (Baron -7%,
Prince -2%). These reliable flesh tomatoes are again this season good for about 85% of the volume of loose Flandria tomatoes. "Loose plum tomatoes have decreased already for a number of years and again this season the area Prunella decreases by 11%" as per Benny Cuypers, salesman at LAVA.
“The total area of tomatoes on the vine increases by about 10% Princess (+5%), a coarse tomato on the vine still guarantees half of the production and there is hardly any change in the proportion of the finer segment. There is almost a doubling of the plum tomato on the vine Prunella. Especially the increase in cultivation of Specialities, loose and on the vine, is striking this year. For 2012 the areas of the earlier Greenpartners, (now COOBRA) are added for the first time and this obviously influences the total picture," Benny Cuypers explains.
Unique advance sales system tomatoes on the vine
"At Veiling Hoogstraten the area of tomatoes increases by 11% to 125 HA,"said Jan Engelen, commercial manager. "We mainly market the segment Princess (76 HA), the coarse tomato on the vine, which is about 85% of our tomato assortment. There is a satisfying demand for Princess also from the Netherlands at the moment."
"Veiling Hoogstraten have been working for three years with a unique advance sales system for tomatoes on the vine full loads (33 pallets)," Jan Engelen explains. "The day after the day of sale the buyer can (after 5 pm) collect the quantity in the desired packing directly from the company. The grower does not have transport to the auction-house and the auction-house itself has less logistic actions. This is most definitely better for the quality of the product. It is a win-win situation for all involved. This sales formula is popular. During 2011 more than 615 full lorry loads were sold in this system by the auction-house."
"Veiling Hoogstraten have been working for three years with a unique advance sales system for tomatoes on the vine full loads (33 pallets)," Jan Engelen explains. "The day after the day of sale the buyer can (after 5 pm) collect the quantity in the desired packing directly from the company. The grower does not have transport to the auction-house and the auction-house itself has less logistic actions. This is most definitely better for the quality of the product. It is a win-win situation for all involved. This sales formula is popular. During 2011 more than 615 full lorry loads were sold in this system by the auction-house."
Source: Flandria Mail