Total Cherry, a subsidiary of Total Produce UK, is quietly optimistic about the imminent cherry season despite its delayed start, according to commercial director Jon Clark.
The cherry season is currently 10 days behind schedule, FreshPlaza reported, due to continued drops in the temperature in Spain and other producer nations.
Spain, Italy and Bulgaria are set to start with small volumes, but Clark believes this slow beginning is no bad thing, with many producers believing it will result in higher sugar levels.
Volumes are forecast to be down by around 20 per cent compared with last year, due to the damage caused by storms in France and Greece, and by rain in Spain.
Meanwhile, the UK cherry crop has had a good fruit set, according to Clark, but volumes may be even lower this year, while Washington's season is larger and earlier than usual, meaning that there will be a greater overlap with Europe.
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