It is sweet potato season at BelOrta again. "We began customer deliveries about two weeks ago, and this year's harvest looks good. It's been a hot, dry summer, which actually benefited the sweet potatoes," says Benny Cuypers.
The Belgian cooperative is, thus, pleased with this season's product quality. "Last year, the summer was too cold and wet, which did the sweet potatoes no good. This year, production is good, which means prices are as they should be." Benny says the cooperative's three regular growers are increasingly trying to continue longer deliveries throughout the season.
"We're trying to store year-round so that towards the end of the season, we can keep supplying these Belgian sweet potatoes. The high storage costs certainly aren't helping. The costs greatly affect margins, but it's something to which we aspire," Benny explains.
"Belgian sweet potatoes are becoming an ever-larger player in the country. However, the sweet potato market is global, so imports and production elsewhere also play a role. We nevertheless focus on the local aspect of this rather exotic product, and its popularity continues to grow steadily in Belgium."
Greenhouse vegetables
Many of BelOrta's greenhouse vegetable crops are nearing the end of their season. "Bell peppers and eggplant are ending, and cucumbers will also be done within a few weeks. We only keep going with tomatoes until the end of the year," Benny explains, "even having some fall TOV cultivation, which runs until the third week of January. There's still supply, but it decreases steadily each week. We're trying to supply our customers as long as possible."
Yet Benny anticipates BelOrta will have significantly less product for Janaury to March. "There will be no or very few lit winter crops, so that supply will be considerably less than in past years. We'll have to wait until late March/early April for the non-lit crops to come into production again. Winter will, undoubtedly, be challenging," he concludes.
