The rise of the cucumber

After the strong increase in acreage seen in 2015 and 2016, the cultivated area for cucumbers has remained stable at around 220 ha in 2017. By comparison, in 2000 the cultivated area at the then Mechelen auctions was 55 ha, which at the time yielded some 40 million cucumbers per year.

In order to market the increased production in an efficient, results-driven way, BelOrta is trying to create a sales mix that uses a variety of sales systems. The emphasis is on advance sales activity.

Advance sales. The majority of cucumbers are traded in the short term advance sales market: batches of cucumbers are sold on day X for delivery on day X+2. The buyer can choose how they are packaged. Because the cucumber is delivered ready-packed by the producer, extra repacking costs and potential repacking damage are avoided. In 2016, we traded cucumbers in more than 20 different kinds of packaging in this way.

This sales method is only possible because our cucumber growers are able to estimate their production with great accuracy, and because they are extremely flexible.

Open boxes. In recent years, in agreement with the trade, standard cucumber boxes (40x30 and 60x40) have evolved from a base and lid box to an open box. This enhances the quality and shelf life of the product.

Sorting. Cucumbers are sold per unit and sorted by unit weight: +750g, +600g, +500g, +400g, +350g, +300g and +250g. Cucumbers with a unit weight of 400g are the most common commercial size.

Export. Thanks to the great increase in acreage, cucumbers are now in second place in BelOrta’s vegetable top ten. Of course, the large volumes are not only destined for the Belgian market. Through the various different sales systems, the cucumbers are also exported to a number of other European countries, such as the Netherlands, Germany and France.

Specialities. As well as the traditional cucumber, our producers also grow specialist cucumbers such as donna mini, donna midi, cocktail and snack cucumbers.

What about industrial cucumbers?

The trade in industrial cucumbers has also evolved over the years. Thanks to improved quality, this category of cucumber has also regained its place in the fresh market. In the past, the majority of industrial cucumbers were sold to the processing factories on contract. In recent years, they have largely been offered per kg via clock sales. This has resulted in a clear upgrading.

Industrial cucumbers are sorted in three weight categories: +100g, +250g and +300g.