It is a very busy Whitsun weekend for Flemish strawberry growers. After several weeks of cooler weather, it is now sunny and warm, leading to a peak in the number of ripe strawberries. ‘There’s no chance of a long-extended holiday weekend for the growers,’ says Miguel Demaeght of the BelOrta fruit and veg auction.
Busy Whitsun weekend for strawberry growers: ‘Season got off to a late start, but is now taking off’
Colin Clapson
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Over the past two weeks, the supply of strawberries has been rather limited for this time of year. But the sunny and warm weather of recent days has given the plants a boost. 'The season got off to a late start this year, but it’s now taking off,' notes grower Marc Munters from Hamont-Achel (Limburg Province).
‘Much of the fruit that is still green is now ripening quickly,’ adds Miguel Demaeght of the BelOrta auction. ‘Because of the warm weather, we can’t pick fruit in the afternoon, because if you pick warm strawberries, you can’t store them properly.’
So the strawberry growers have now been getting up extra early every day. ‘We start picking before 6 am so that we’re finished by midday,’ says grower Marc Munters. ‘There’s no such thing as a Sunday or a bank holiday for us right now! The harvest has to be brought in, the whole family is called in to help, and our other work has to be put on hold for the time being.’
From 9 to 6 euros per kilo
Because the strawberries are ripening quickly now, those that are picked are less plump. Prices for smaller strawberries are lower. ‘Due to the limited supply of strawberries in recent weeks, including in neighbouring countries, the price for growers was quite high. But since Friday, the price has started to fall,’ says BelOrta. Whereas growers were receiving around 9 euros per kilo in recent weeks, that price has now dropped to around 6 euros per kilo.
There is still plenty of demand for strawberries, however. ‘That remains the strength of the strawberry,’ says Shannen Dienn of the Hoogstraten Co-operative. ‘As soon as the weather improves, people head out to the fields. June and July are traditionally busy months too. There seems to be plenty of scope for a good summer season.’
And what about the flavour? ‘In recent years, the sector in Belgium has selected several top varieties. Even in grey weather, strawberries are delicious’ beams grower Marc Munters. ‘Now the sun has provided extra sugars and extra flavour, the taste is superb!’