Belgian bell pepper season starts unsually well

Bart Van Bael, Coöperatie Hoogstraten “Belgian bell pepper season starts unsually well”

in Belgium, Hoogstraten is the place to go for strawberries. But this cooperative’s product range doesn’t consist solely of strawberries and other soft fruits. Greenhouse vegetables, particularly tomatoes and bell peppers, make up an important part of the assortment. Tomatoes are the most frequently supplied product. And bell peppers’ share has grown rapidly in recent years too.

TOMATOES

“The greenhouse vegetable season has begun. But, for tomatoes, there’s no real start to the season anymore. Lit cultivation means Belgian tomatoes are grown all year round,” says Bart Van Bael of Coöperatie Hoogstraten. “Tomatoes had a good spring. There were some shortages in cherry truss tomatoes, but supply and demand were generally well balanced. However, after Easter, the market became a bit unbalanced. That was partly due to the changeable, cold weather. So, current prices aren’t great. The weather has put a damper on consumption which is reflected in the prices.”

BELL PEPPERS

Bell peppers season does have a true start. “In winter, these come from southern Europe, especially Spain. You can grow bell peppers under lights, but it’s costly. That’s why it’s not done. It’s cheaper and easier to grow them in Southern Europe. The Belgian bell pepper season began exceptionally well. The weather caused supply shortages from Spain and what was available was of poor quality. As a result, Belgian bell pepper prices were good, especially for the red and yellow ones.”

CHALLENGE

“The COVID-19 pandemic poses one of this year’s biggest challenges. On the one hand, people are eating more fruits and vegetables. The virus makes them worry more about their health. This benefits fruit and vegetable sales,” says Bart. “On the other hand, the government’s measures have shut down a vital sales channel - the hospitality industry. Many of the products we sell end up in supermarkets. But, we have specialties grown especially for the hospitality industry too. Eateries in many countries are currently still closed. We all hope these will be allowed to reopen soon and that the sale of these specialties can get going again.”

Coöperatie Hoogstraten’s tomato and bell pepper acreages have remained virtually unchanged. “There have been a few small expansions, but nothing substantial. The most important thing this year is to keep the supply and demand well balanced. And to realize a good price for our products. We’re fully committed to this, but the corona crisis makes it more difficult to gauge the market. This virus isn’t only causing problems in the sales market but also in cultivation. Also, disease pressure is a major factor, and we know it will continue to be in the future. In short, there are plenty of challenges, but also opportunities,” concludes Bart. (SR) 

bart.vanbael@hoogstraten.eu