"Belgium: "Leek prices at a reasonable level"

The export of leeks to Germany is going quite quietly at the moment. "The big traders in that country still have enough production and there are small amounts going to small dealers. There is more than enough German leek available, a lot has been cultivated this year, especially in Pfalz. As long as the temperatures don't go below freezing, not much will change. And it will remain this way for a while, I'm afraid. Now there are still late tomatoes, chicory and lettuce heading towards Germany, but in general it's pretty quite," says an exporter.

"Nevertheless the leek prices on the Belgian auctions remain at a good level. Last week the price was around 40 cents per kilo, and last Friday it was up to 50 cents. There are good prices, especially compared to last year. This is mainly due to the fact that there is some demand from other European countries. Last year around this time the prices were lower because there was less demand from other countries, and like then, we have to wait until it freezes."

"I think there is more demand for leek from the UK and from some southern countries. it's not that there's less production, but just like with the top fruit growers are waiting and not throwing it all on the market at once."