The final results of Statbel's Agricultural Survey 2023 have been published. In 2023, the area of greenhouses in Belgium was approximately 2676 hectares, of which 1227 are set up to grow fresh vegetables.
The total area of greenhouses thus increased by 50 hectares compared to 2022. The area of fresh vegetables increased by 49 hectares. Among large greenhouse vegetables, a decline in the area under tomatoes is striking, which was also the case in 2022. However, the area under cucumbers is rising again, according to the statisticians.
Among fresh vegetables, tomato acreage is by far the largest, with 583 hectares (608 in 2022). Peppers (114 in 2023, used to be 125), head lettuce (97, used to be 113) and cucumber (60, used to be 51) follow next.
Tomato growers, looking for alternatives due to virus issues, ended up with cucumber, sweet pepper as well as strawberry. For cucumber, according to the figures, the increase in acreage continues.
Fruit grown in greenhouses amounts to 890 hectares, of which 757 hectares are strawberry. The area of small fruit grown outdoors is 1075 hectares. The area of fruit growing in greenhouses shows a slight increase compared to 2022 (+2 hectares). The area of strawberry remains the same.
In the latest Statbel figures, ornamental greenhouse cultivation comes to 366 hectares. This is 9 hectares less than in the 2022 figures.
Source: Statbel