There will be a major shift in the segmentation of Flandria tomatoes this season according to Dominiek Keersebilck, product manager of fruit and vegetables of the Flanders agricultural marketing board, Vlam.
Keersebilck explained this is due to the input of a set of new varieties. Loose tomato availability under the Flandria label will rise this season, while the supply of tomatoes on-the-vine will remain stable. Raf De Blaiser, quality manager of LAVA, the umbrella organisation grouping seven Belgian auctions, said: "We will see an increase in growing area of loose tomatoes of 5.2 per cent to 254.8 hectares.”
According to Keersebilck, loose tomatoes will continue to gain in importance. "The Prince variety is estimated to increase by around 20 per cent - approximately 40,000 tonnes - while demand for Baron will continue to be steady with around 70,000t being produced."
Of the vine tomatoes, Princess is tipped to see a steady growth rate. Keersebilck added: "We are expecting production to increase by 25 per cent to around 10,000 tonnes."
