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Belgian horticultural cooperative BelOrta saw an increase in turnover in 2024, despite the impact of climate change, tightening regulations, inflation and geopolitical tensions. There was also one unexpected success story…
Far from ideal
Belorta managed to raise its turnover by 7 % to 665 million euros, but it stresses that conditions were far from ideal. The persistent wet and dark weather had a major impact on the production of most types of fresh fruit and vegetables, whether grown outdoors or in greenhouses.
Moreover, the wet spring caused production problems for chicory, cauliflower and leeks. The cooperative was able to mostly offset lower volumes by higher prices. 2024 was not a good year for lettuce and tomatoes, but a TikTok hype ensured the best cucumber season in ages. Apples and pears had a difficult year as well, while strawberries sold well. Blueberries face competition from countries benefiting from less strict regulations on production and labour, BelOrta pointed out.
The cooperative believes fresh fruit and vegetables are not really benefiting from the increased focus on healthy and unprocessed food. BelOrta also points to “the almost untenable regulations and the excessive expectations of many market participants”.
