Although early glasshouse production of small cauliflowers has been available in small quantities since March, the principal cauliflower season is just getting underway in Belgium.
The main season begins at the end of April, when the outdoor crop kicks off, with large cauliflower heads of 27mm, all grown under Flandria’s stringent quality requirements, becoming available.
This year, glasshouse and early outdoor production will have to make up for a shortfall in the winter crop, according to Eddy Bastiaens, field vegetable quality manager at the Mechlin auction.
“The winter cauliflower plants, which stayed out in the field all winter, have been hit hard by the frost – both here in Belgium and in neighbouring countries,” he said. “Supply of winter cauliflower normally starts in week 14, but this spring I’m expecting a relative shortage. Glasshouse cauliflower and early cauliflower grown outdoors will have to make up the deficit.”
“Starting in May there will be a plentiful supply of field-grown spring cauliflower,” continued Mr Bastiaens. “Traditionally, supply peaks shortly thereafter. This year that will probably happen around week 21 or 22, when we’ll be able to guarantee buyers 800,000 heads or perhaps even more. The flavour of this popular early vegetable is second to none.”
