Belgian vegetable processors fear shortages due to wet spring

On the Belgian news site Vilt, Ardo's chief agronomist Jan Hanssens reports that the difficult spring is also throwing the company's processing planning into disarray. For example, he has asked growers to postpone their second planting of cauliflower because otherwise the harvest may coincide with that of beans. According to key account manager Luc De Waele of industrial vegetable growers' cooperative Ingro, the postponement of spring work also means permanent cancellation for some crops. 'A lot of spinach has not been sown. We certainly expect a shortage of this crop soon.' Hanssens confirms this and also predicts a shortage of peas. 'This crop will be sown until next week, which generally results in lower yields. In combination with lower pea yields in Southern Europe, I fear a shortage," says the chief agronomist. Too early for forecasts It is still too early to make forecasts for other Belgian industrial vegetables, says Hanssens. 'With a growing summer, some catch-up can be ...