Bad weather boosts food prices

30 July 2007

BRUSSELS – The wet weather will boost the prices of a number of crops, Het Nieuwsblad reported on Sunday. The harvest of grains like winter wheat is in danger.

The persistent rain has kept fields too wet and farmers will be unable to harvest the crops.

This will affect prices of products like rice, pasta, bread and beer. Prices of these items have not yet risen, though vegetables like cauliflower, spinach and broccoli have become more expensive because the sowing period in April was so dry.

“If you compare the price being charged in stores for a cauliflower for instance, you see it is quite a bit higher than last year,” says Lars Vervoort of Carrefour.

The price increase is primarily due to the bad weather, but also to the fact that many farmers are changing over to biological crops.

Moreover the Chinese are buying in part of the harvest, as are the British, who are unable to harvest their own crops because of severe flooding in parts of England. Tomatoes and carrots are the same price as last year. Fruit like peaches, nectarines, melon, cherries and grapes are about 15 to 20 percent cheaper than last year, while apricots are more expensive.

Subject: Belgian news