With the start of September, the sky-high cucumber prices on the clocks at the VBT auctions have dropped. The mid price fell back to 69 euro cents each in week 36. A price that is still high, but close to the equally high prices in 2022.
Tomatoes
Tomato prices have been on the rise recently. It brings the average kilogram price for vine tomatoes to over 1.13 euros. Loose tomatoes score even slightly higher at €1.18 per kilo. The price increase is in line with the five-year average. After the summer, tomato prices usually rise, often with another dip from mid-October onwards.
Bell peppers
For bell peppers, the mid-price has been running nicely in line with the five-year average in recent weeks. For red, this means an average kilogram price of 1.17 euros in week 36. For yellow, the price is rounded to 1.85 euros per kilo. That is well above average, though.
Head lettuce
After very high lettuce prices in spring, prices in the middle of summer were moderate. Recently, however, the price has picked up somewhat, to 43 euro cents per head in week 36.
Strawberries
The mid price for strawberries has started to rise after the absolute low in week 31 to over EUR 5.62 per kilo in week 36. This puts prices much higher than last year, and also narrowly higher than the high prices in 2022. As a reason for the higher prices, Michel Vermeiren of Coöperatie Hoogstraten pointed to lower volumes last week. A combination of switching to everbearers and later planting due to the weather means lower volumes are currently available. From the second half of September, Hoogstraten expects volumes to slowly increase again.
Source: Agricultural figures via the Flemish Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries