Auction Hoogstraten focusing on strawberry promotion

The strawberry market was in a difficult position until the middle of this week, but is currently scrambles out of the dip, "The price is happily restored, and the average price of all breeds and sizes is now around 2.25 Euro", says Jan Engelen from Veiling Hoogstraten. "For the time of year that is acceptable. This market ran for about ten days at a difficult level and that was due to a combination of factors such as weather and large volumes. Last week we had a supply of over a million kilos! The weather forecast is favourable. So that should have a good influence on the market."

Even the export has been slow, but slowly begins to get going. Scandinavia is back on the market and also the interest from France is coming back. Domestic production in these countries is coming to an end and especially in France it is the perfect weather for sales."

Promotion

Jan says that they are looking forward to the second important period for strawberries. "In the Autumn the protected cultivation and cultivation under glass starts again. During the Autumn the strawberry is not standard in the minds of consumers and we must compete with alternatives such as grapes and citrus. We are preparing this period. We have various consumer promotions and for the companies we will be active at trade fairs such as World Food Moscow, WOP Dubai and Fruit Attraction. Next September we will again organise the International Strawberry Congress."

Veiling Hoogstraten is a major player in strawberries. In the future, they want to add to the range of soft fruit and are currently busy with negotiations in this area.

For more information:
Jan Engelen
Veiling Hoogstraten
Loenhoutseweg 59
Hoogstraten - België
Tel: +32 3 3400233
Fax: +32 3 3147844
www.veilinghoogstraten.be