Cool night temperatures across the eastern Mediterranean basin are slowing strawberry availability.
“The poor weather has meant that harvesting has been reduced mainly through cold night temperatures with the result that volumes are not matching estimates,” said Scott Woolford of The Summerfruit Company.
“This has caused a lack of volume in both Egypt and Israel, where rain has also added to delays. To the west, we are served little better by Morocco for the same reasons.”
And there is still only a small volume coming through from Spain. “Nevertheless, quality of the fruit which is being shipped is still very good and the overall outlook is for a build up of fruit by next week,” added Woolford.
Meanwhile, blackberries are also going through a dip in availability of Tupi, which is proving an extremely popular variety among UK customers. “We expect the trough in production to last for about a fortnight until the second wave of fruit gets into full swing,” said Woolford. Mexico and Chile are the main suppliers at this point in the season.
And raspberries are experiencing a tightening in supply too. “Chilean fruit shipped by sea remains the bedrock of the current supply situation,” Woolford added.
No comments yet