Here we go again for the season of Zeeland mussels, the favorites of Belgians.
This Wednesday, July 6, it was a fanfare opening with a plethora of guest artists in Yerzeke, the iconic port that launches the start of tastings each year (although they had already arrived in stores at the end of June).
So, what does that say about Zeeland bottom mussels? But good ! « The mussels are very fleshy and have a beautiful color, we estimate the percentage of flesh at 27% “, explains Marinus Padmos, mussel farmer in Bruinisse.
A mussel burger
To celebrate this season, photographer and artist Rem van den Bosch and chef Tim Sinke have created Zeeland’s first mussel burger. « The flesh of sustainable mussels is tasty, healthy and comes from the region. An ideal responsible alternative to meat as part of the protein transition we want to achieve », estime Margreet van Vilsteren de l’organisation environnementale Good Fish.
A good big volume
Producer prices should be around the same average as last year, with a season that turned out to be quite good. « With almost 34 million kg and an average of €2/kg, the total volume for the 2021-2022 season was quite good. A similar volume is expected for the new season. ” The February 2022 storms (Dudley, Eunice and Franklin) may still have a negative effect on the coming season, but possibly even more on the 2023 season. It all now depends on the growth taking place from now until the end of September. »
Mussel growers are counting on a good season to invest ever more in sustainability, a commitment made in 2008 already concerning spat. All mussels carry the MSC label, sustainable fishing.
The costs ?
At Aldi, where one in four home-cooked mussels is purchased, the Super is at €3.90 per kilo and the Jumbo at €6.79/kg. At Delhaize, we plan to sell 2,000 tonnes of mussels, at €4.99/kg for super and €7.49 for one kg of jumbo. At Colruyt and Carrefour, we are in the same price range as Aldi.
Note that the Lion brand also encourages those who do not like to prepare them to eat them anyway by offering this year pre-cooked mussels which have already undergone a first cooking, embellished with a quality sauce. Easy to heat up and ready in 3 minutes.
In restaurants, it will be a different matter… with prices between 22 and 30 euros for an 800g pan!