"Autumn is around the corner with sprouts, citrus, and cabbages"

For wholesalers, the transition from summer to autumn is now underway. "August was fairly quiet. We had a short break, but since last week, we have been back in full swing. The first sprouts and parsnips arrived, and then you know: Autumn is around the corner again," says Ellen Sebrechts of the family wholesaler in Antwerp.

This is gradually being reflected in sales as well. "The summer was a bit quieter, but not necessarily bad. The first weeks of August, after the construction holidays, were calmer, but then everything picked up quickly. Since the end of August, the market has been in full swing again. Weather-wise, we can't complain either. We've had several peak weeks with perfect market weather, without the heavy rain of last year. So now comes the transition, though there wasn't really a surge in autumn products last week. Probably because of the good weather, but with rain now forecast, you can immediately see how it influences buying behaviour. It remains extraordinary how strongly the weather affects demand. As soon as it turns colder and wetter, demand for Brussels sprouts, parsnips and coloured cabbages rises."

Citrus and grapes instead of melons and stone fruit
Ellen also notices this shift across many products. "Wild mushrooms are coming back in. We've already received beautiful chanterelles. The first cranberries are available again, as well as French hazelnuts and medlars. Small apples like mini-Cox are very popular in Belgium. Radishes too – it's remarkable how demand suddenly shot up within a week. On Monday, there was a sudden rush on San-Marzano tomatoes. I think someone must have cooked with them on TV, and then everyone wants them. It is also an ideal, versatile tomato, perfect for sauces, in the oven, or in a salad."

"Many specialty shops and market stallholders, which form a large part of our customer base, are also adjusting their displays to an autumn theme. Pumpkins are slowly reappearing. Demand for citrus is growing. At the moment, this mainly comes from Argentina and Uruguay. People often don't realise that the Spanish season is still some way off, but the quality from South America is also very good. It's a bit pricier, but demand is strong. Supply has been somewhat inconsistent. The season started late, and the brands we usually work with in August weren't available. I think global demand was very strong. At one point, only very small sizes were available. Then we had to wait two weeks, and suddenly, large sizes arrived all at once. Unfortunately, little came our way, but what we did get sold out immediately. We also have Cara-Cara from South Africa. The quality is excellent."

"Grapes are also doing well again," Ellen continues. "They were difficult to source for a while, but we are now in the middle of the Italian season, and the good varieties are arriving. The Autumncrisp is truly top quality in flavour. They fit nicely alongside our Belgian grapes, which are also very good. The Leopold grapes, a typical Belgian variety, are expensive but exceptional. People buy them without looking at the price." So there are no complaints about quality, but soft fruit was out of the question, Ellen notes. "Strawberries were a bit difficult this summer. Due to the heat, quality was disappointing and prices remained consistently high."

Lemons for limoncello
Asked about current trends, Ellen also sees new products gaining popularity. "It's striking, for example, that fruit like pitahaya is in demand. This used to be an exotic holiday fruit, but now it's increasingly bought to give dishes that little extra touch. Amalfi lemons are also popular. Customers enjoy making things like limoncello at home, and these are perfect for that. These are the kinds of products that are gradually replacing stone fruit and melons during this period."

For more information:
Ellen Sebrechts
Sebrechts Groenten & Fruit
Kielsbroek 4
2020 Antwerp, Belgium
+32 32374192
[email protected]
www.sebrechtsfruit.be