In Belgium, both loose and truss tomato prices fell last week, thus halting the recent price increase. That was not unexpected now that volumes from Spain are picking up. Last year, prices also sank in week 43. Strawberry prices, though, keep climbing.
All of last week, TOV sold for an average of €1.57/kg and loose tomatoes for €1.15/kg at the Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives Federation (VBT) auctions.
Bell pepper prices slumped last week, reaching €0.735 for all the colors collectively. The median price for red was €0.864. Nonetheless, both tomato and bell pepper average prices are still well above the five-year average.
At €0.361, cucumber prices are on par with that average, as are iceberg lettuce prices. Last week, a head of lettuce sold for an average €0.43.
By contrast, strawberry prices rose sharply in week 43. Again, that is in line with price movements in recent years. The average kilogram price at the VBT was €7.53.
You can see all the figures on www.vlaanderen.be/landbouwcijfers and the VBT week 43 figures for vegetables and fruit.