Onion cultivation in Wallonia, Belgium, has seen a significant increase, reaching approximately 2,000 hectares, a rise of 500 to 600 hectares compared to the previous year. In Flanders, the area under onion cultivation has grown by 19% to 4,411 hectares. Despite a setback in the fresh market due to a late start to the 2024 season, there has been a notable increase in the cultivation of later varieties for the industry, with a 23% growth in Flanders to 2,575 hectares, surpassing the 2021 peak. However, the season has brought challenges such as increased rainfall during ripening, leading to higher risk of bacterial and head rot, and a larger portion of greener, wetter onions. These quality issues have prompted some growers to sell their produce earlier to avoid extensive storage problems.