The weather has had a tremendous influence on the fruit and vegetable trade and as a result the market situation changes often. Last week there was a lot of sunshine and as a result the demand for peaches and nectarines increased. "Prices obtained were and still are at a good level," Francis van Overstraeten van De Roeck says. "There is less production this year because of the frost in February. Then the top fruit orchards were flowering and as a result a large part has been damaged."
Limited volumes
"As a result limited volumes of nectarines and peaches are imported," Francis observes. And because of the weather the demand was at a high level last week. There were insufficient nectarines. At the moment it is a little colder and demand has decreased as well. For the good sizes nectarines between 2.50 and 4.00 euro/kg is paid at the moment. With peaches the price is around euro 2.00/kg." He expects that larger numbers will arrive within little more than a week."
Spanish citrus more expensive than Egyptian and Moroccan
"With citrus this is varying and one day is better than the other. Actually it works all through the year. Only when the weather is colder demand is somewhat higher. Prices of the Spanish citrus are higher than the Egyptian and Moroccan" the trader mentions. "Spain is producing well and I think that for at least two or three weeks citrus will come from there." Mainly juicing oranges from Spain will be on the market. The Egyptian and Moroccan cost between 50 and 55 cents and for the Spanish ones an additional 5 cents is paid."
For more information:
De Roeck & Zonen
Francis van Overstraeten
112-154, E.C. Werkhuizenkaai
1000 Brussels
Tel: +32 (0) 2 2426220
Fax: +32 (0) 2 2159959
Cell: +32-479559366