As Belgium’s unlit crop season draws to a close, domestic horticultural production is giving way to imported produce. According to the latest data from the Association of Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives (VBT), average prices for several key vegetables declined during week 44, reflecting the annual shift in supply sources.
For truss tomatoes, the average price stood at just over €1.26 per kilogram, slightly lower than the same week in the past two years. Loose tomatoes followed a similar trend, with an average price of €0.82 per kilo. The figures point to a gradual easing of prices as local production winds down and imports begin to supplement Belgian markets.
Cucumbers, another staple of Belgian greenhouses, averaged €0.46 per piece in week 44. While this price is below the five-year average, it remains higher than during the same period in 2024. This moderate increase suggests that despite limited supply, demand has stayed relatively stable at the start of the colder months.
Bell peppers showed a mixed picture across color varieties. Red peppers averaged €1.33 per kilo, yellow peppers reached €0.76, and green peppers stood at €0.40. Compared with previous seasons, these prices reflect both the end of local availability and the influx of foreign-grown produce, particularly from southern Europe, where greenhouse cultivation continues through the winter.
The end of unlit cultivation marks a crucial phase in Belgium’s agricultural calendar. During this period, growers traditionally cease production in greenhouses that do not rely on artificial lighting. As daylight hours shorten and temperatures drop, maintaining yields without artificial illumination becomes economically unfeasible.
“By early November, many growers begin preparing their facilities for the next lit crop cycle,” said a spokesperson for the VBT. “This seasonal transition typically results in tighter local supply and gradual reliance on imported vegetables.”
Imports, especially from Spain and the Netherlands, fill the market gap left by the reduction in Belgian production. These regions benefit from milder climates or large-scale heated greenhouses, allowing them to maintain steady output even as northern Europe’s daylight dwindles.
While prices tend to dip slightly during this transition, retailers and consumers are likely to see stable availability across supermarkets. The main changes come in terms of origin labeling and potential variations in flavor or freshness due to longer transport distances.
Despite fluctuating prices, experts note that Belgium’s greenhouse sector remains one of Europe’s most efficient. Continuous improvements in lighting, energy management, and sustainable cultivation practices are expected to help growers extend production windows in the future.
As local harvests wrap up for the year, Belgium’s fruit and vegetable markets enter their winter rhythm—less local, more imported, but still closely watched by growers and traders across the country.
