A small increase in the median prices for loose tomatoes and vine tomatoes does not yet bring the price above the five-year average at VBT in week 33. An average price of 51 euro cents per kilogram for loose tomatoes and 47 euro cents per kilogram for vine tomatoes is still not sufficient. However, the cucumber price is experiencing a significant rebound, and red pepper prices are also rising.
The cucumber price has been steadily increasing at the auctions of the Federation of Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives since the end of July. By the end of week 33, this brought the average unit price to just under 95 euro cents.
Traditionally, summer weather boosts demand for fresh vegetables, and the return of holiday shoppers may also contribute to this increase. Nevertheless, the peak price in week 33 exceeds that of previous years.
Since 2016, only the week 33 pricing in 2018 comes close. Even around May of this year, the cucumber price had already risen to significant heights. The difference between the median price in week 33 of this year and last year's price is over 60 cents.
A look at the price for organic cucumbers shows more stable price formation. Except for a peak in week 24 and a trough in week 25, the price has remained above the five-year average for weeks, with an average unit price of 73.7 euro cents in week 33.
The increase in the red pepper price has not yet brought the median price above the five-year average. In week 33, red peppers averaged just under 1.30 euros per kilo, green peppers 1.28 euros, and yellow peppers 1.57 euros. The prices for yellow and green peppers have dropped slightly. It is mainly the doubling of the median price for red peppers that stands out.
Last week, the median price of cabbage lettuce, another vegetable that thrives in summer weather, also rose. In recent weeks, the price had been low despite favorable weather, but at 45.4 euro cents per piece, the median price is now close to the 'normal' level for this time of year.
The strawberry price is recovering, climbing up from a summer low. At 3.44 euros per kilo in week 33, the price is now back to just below the five-year average. Grower Philip Van Overbeke signalled the price recovery, suggesting that supermarket promotions stimulating demand could be a possible reason.
View all VBT mid-prices for week 33 for vegetables here. All price charts can be checked at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries on the agriculture figures page.