Drought stress has affected the crop in some growing areas and the effects of late spring frost have been compounded by rain in the autumn at harvest time.
“We are just coming to the end of the northern hemisphere season with French, Italian and US supplies,” said Andy Macdonald of Coregeo, the Pink Lady trademark owner’s UK agent. “They will last just a few more weeks and then we will be into the first of the South African crop and Chilean supplies. We should get through the changeover all right and we won’t be without Pink Lady, but a lot will depend on demand.”
A cold spell recently in South Africa has helped boost colour on Pink Lady, according to Martin Dunnett of importer Capespan UK. He forecasts South African Pink Lady exports to the UK to reach some 550,000 cartons.
Macdonald is not too concerned about the Australian situation just yet as Australia normally fills the late-season window before northern hemisphere supplies recommence. “There is a still a long time to go before the final figures for Australia are known,” said Macdonald. “And although the crop may be down, exports might not necessarily.”
So far Chilean Pink Lady has not stored well under controlled atmosphere conditions, but further trials are taking place again this year. “Chile has a lot of Pink Lady so if they could get it to store, that would be good,” said Macdonald.
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