The strawberry season is behind in production compared to last year. "The colder weather means everything is getting going more slowly. The interest in northern European strawberries is increasing. Demand and supply aren't in proportion, so the prices are quite high. At the moment we have an average price of 4.30 per kilo throughout all sortings," summarises Jan Engelen of Cooperation Hoogstraten.
A few more weeks of waiting
The larger volumes aren't expected until mid May. "At the end of next week the higher temperatures are expected to return. The chance is high that there will be much more product in the weeks after that. We are now at a supply of slightly more than 100 tonnes a day. Normally we are at around 800 to 850 tonnes per week in this period. Last year we were at 870 tonnes per week. The week after was 1300 tonnes and then 2000 tonnes. That was when the season really got going and this year it is expected to take slightly longer." He indicates that the export is the demanding part at the moment. "There is also a lot of demand from the domestic market. We always take the increased demand around the 17th of May, the holiday in Norway, into consideration. If all goes well we will have enough strawberries by then."
Less kiwi berries and cherries
Besides strawberries Hoogstraten wants to grow in other soft fruits and kiwi berries. "We see a strong increase in the demand for raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. These season haven't really started yet, apart from the raspberries. The price formation of this fruit is satisfactory." How many cherries and kiwi berries will be supplied this year is still unclear. "It froze a lot last week and this caused a lot of damage among these two products in particular. We will have to adjust the supply estimates of these products."
For more information:
Jan Engelen
Coöperatie Hoogstraten
Loenhoutseweg 59
Hoogstraten - Belgium
Tel: +32 3 3400233
Fax: +32 3 3147844
www.hoogstraten.eu