Chile is still on course to start its stone-fruit season in mid to late-January despite some frosts, according to importers.
“They had quite severe frosts last month in Chile, which was very late in the season for them,” said one leading importer. “Because of that we are expecting nectarines to be about 15 per cent down in volume on last season and for there to be more larger fruit.”
The peach-crop outlook mirrors this effect although peach sendings are not as significant to the UK.
And the situation is expected to be similar for the plum crop. However, the beginning of the season is later and as supplies are not forecast to start until around mid-February it is still too early to make a more accurate forecast.
“At this stage it looks as though plums will be about 20 per cent down on last season,” said the importer. “That is not a bad thing as the plum market over the last two to three years has suffered with serious oversupply.”
The comparative strength of sterling against the dollar, as opposed to the euro, has been blamed for an oversupplied UK market, particularly this year.
“We have seen more sendings to the UK as a result,” said the importer. “This season we are hopeful that we might see a more stable plum market if volumes run a bit tighter.”
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