Agrexco has made the most of a strong Israeli stonefruit campaign this year, with plums in particular proving a hit in the UK market.
Steve Hopkins, sales manager at Agrexco UK, told FPJ: “This season has been a total success story for us with regard to stonefruit - plums in particular. At the start of the season I was optimistic due to the quality of the early varieties, but in actual fact it has only got better and better in terms of taste and quality - our only problem being that demand outstrips supply.”
Anticipated high sugar levels have continued to be consistent over the last quarter, but along with this the general quality overall has been equally good, said Hopkins, pictured.
“We have been working many varieties, including New Yorker, New Queen, Red Mazal and Mark, the latter only available in semi-commercial volume and in my opinion stunningly gorgeous and one for the future… We are also happy to report good results for other ‘members’ of the Ben Dor family - plumegranates and watermelon, a green-skinned red flesh variety.”
But despite the successful crop, the poor exchange rate is making life especially challenging for Israeli growers. “We have a duty to our growers to get a good return, and obviously also to our customers,” said Hopkins. “Fortunately, in understanding the situation, our customers are working with us in this.
“Now we are looking ahead to the autumn and will actually be working the Autumn Red 440 next week. Again, this should be an equally good season for us,” he added.
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