"Large volumes of strawberries cause pressure on price"

"Since this weekend volumes of strawberries in Belgium are a lot larger," Jos Craemers of Veiling Borgloon tells. "Elsanta from the open ground have already been supplied and in the meantime EVT's (Elsanta Late Cultivation) have been added. Since Saturday last week about 500 tons is supplied daily. Because the weather was good during a few days cultivations overlap and quantities increase."

"Based on the demand in the market the volume is too large and puts pressure on the market. The weather is not really very good and consequently consumption is not high. Strawberries are an impulse product, which is bought when the weather is good. Also export is not very large. Buyers at the moment are England, Scandinavia and Russia. Less is going to Scandinavia because they have their own production. Also Russia is difficult because of the shorter durability of the strawberries, which does not work too well with long distances. Nevertheless there are lots, which can go that distance. The quality is not optimum. The price for EVT is from 80 cents to 1.30 Euro."

Despite the market situation the specialist in summer fruit remains optimistic about the coming period. "We expect more supply during the coming weeks and hope for more sunshine."

For more information:
Jos Craemers
Veiling Borgloon
Tel: 0032 12/670 100
Fax: 0032 12/745 071
Belgium
www.eburon.be