Celery is running extremely short on markets in the UK as supplies from Spain dwindle six weeks ahead of the usual end to the season.

According to Jonathan Tremayne at G’s Marketing - the market leader in celery with its own production in Murcia - the reason is two-fold. “Sales year on year are running high as there has been some switching over to celery because of high lettuce prices earlier in the spring,” he said. “But now celery is experiencing the effects of the cold in January, February and March, and yields are lower.”

The effects were not felt earlier as celery growth rates are slower than those of lettuce, but yields are estimated to be down by some 10 per cent.

The UK crop looks likely to come on stream gradually starting exceptionally early in the second week of June thanks to mild spring weather, but the supply situation will remain tight until at least the end of June. Prices are only seven per cent up year on year, but should climb.

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