Growers in France and Belgium have reported early starts for various vegetables this season, leading to a glut of produce and disappointing prices.
A lack of rain in March and April has combined with high temperatures to affect the production of a host of vegetables, including cauliflowers, broccoli, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, green beans, artichokes and strawberries.
Pierre Gélébart of French marketer Prince de Bretagne, based in Brittany, revealed that the cauliflower season had finished extremely prematurely.
'Usually the volume falls gradually towards the end of the season and the price slowly increases,' he told Fruitnet.com. 'But after Easter, the price per box suddenly became the price per head.'
He also revealed that there was minor panic at other vegetable seasons beginning early, since none of the usual promotions had been put in place.
Dominiek Noppe of Belgian exporter Vergro told Fruitnet.com that the warm, dry weather had caused products like cucumbers and lettuces to ripen early and to arrive in large volumes.
'There are large quantities on the market and very low prices,' he said. 'The same is true of tomatoes.'
