Cauliflower supply is running extremely tight and is likely to continue to do so into early next month.
Prices this week in the UK have sky-rocketed on wholesale markets. Supplies from Kent made 1200p for 12s on New Covent Garden Market and New Spitalfields with 8s from Brittany commanding 880p and 960p on Gateshead and Western International respectively. Spanish cauliflower made 780p for 12s in Glasgow.
“Supplies are running at only about 60 per cent of demand,” explained Nigel Clare of Marshall Bros (Butterwick) Ltd, a major grower and supplier. “I believe the whole of January will continue like that, maybe even into early February.”
The main reasons for the situation are disrupted availability from Cornwall with some Christmas varieties running early and others running late. “Cornish volumes are a real mixed bag at the moment,” said Clare.
With temperatures forecast to hit -12°C next week in parts of the UK, the situation could become more difficult, especially if soil temperatures fall in key growing areas such as Cornwall, Lincolnshire and Kent.
Some varieties that would usually still be cropping at this time have all been harvested and others are on the late side, due in part to planting dates as well as the soil temperatures.
Brittany is expected to supply in volume next week, but a cold snap across the Channel could yet disrupt those plans.
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