The cold snap that descended on the UK bringing snow and unseasonably low temperatures over the Easter weekend also struck continental Europe, and has had some knock-on effects on fresh produce.
Jonathan Tole, chairman of the British Onion Producers’ Association, said growers are still drilling their crops. “We have had a slightly drier winter and, although a lot of the crop was drilled in late January and February, the wet weather and prevailing conditions we have had since then have slowed down the remainder.”
One vegetable supplier based in Lincolnshire reported damage to his growers’ cauliflowers at the weekend.
“Those varieties that have a more open frame leave the curd more exposed, and with the weekend weather, some have turned brown or yellow,” said the supplier. “It is still quite early to say, but there could be up to 20 per cent crop losses.”
The fact that winter had been relatively mild before last weekend has exacerbated the problem, as crops were forward for the time of year.
Southern Spain was also affected by rain and cold at the weekend. In Almería, temperatures fell to 11°C at the weekend, when last week they had reached a high of 23°C.
The result is that prices for leafy salads have strengthened by as much as 10p a head and courgettes, which are particularly susceptible to the cold, have been losing their flowers in the field.
Snow in Avignon and Perpignan has also slowed supplies of leafy salads from southern France, leaving importers with reduced alternatives.
There were no reported problems for stonefruit or top-fruit trees in the UK, as buds are still tight, although cherry, pear and plums are expected to bloom soon.
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