With the first volumes of greenhouse vegetables already on sale due to the recent high temperatures, industry experts are noting the poor pricing attached to this year’s production.
Although the production usually achieves reasonable prices in May, the market appears to show it is already in mid-summer.
While it's a busy time, vegetables are being sold for very little, commented Rony Ceuster from Belgium firm Compra.
"The season has started nearly a month early, catching us by surprise, so we are really busy."
Producers are following the pricing situation with great concern.
For fresh produce such as lettuce, cucumbers, courgettes and strawberries, prices have now dropped to very low levels.
Lettuce are already being discarded with there being too much alternative lettuce varieties, said Ceuster.
As production volumes in Europe continue to increase and flood the market, each year brings acreage expansions in countries such as Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland.
However, there is some good news with the low prices and big volumes bringing work to companies operating in this area of fresh produce.
"But in terms of prices, it is all too little."
© 2014 - European Supermarket Magazine
