The raspberry market has been buoyant over the last two weeks with product from the UK starting early and dovetailing with peak volumes from Spain and Portugal.
John Grieve of importer Lisons said: “There are too many raspberries suddenly, with a lot of plants coming on stream at once.Raspberries have been short all season long and now we have a bit of English available too.”
Berry Gardens has had its Spanish and Portuguese production of Maravilla at a peak last week.
“We have had super volumes of really good quality fruit,” said managing director Nick Marston. “The UK has already started its production and will hit volume in the third and fourth weeks of June.”
Marston believes that continental and UK production “should mesh together fine” but Grieve is concerned for wholesale market pricing.
“I think what will happen is we will suddenly get a surge, the market will get overdone and prices will tumble. Some of the Spanish will probably then pull up stumps.”
Prices for Spanish raspberries on Glasgow market were half last week’s levels this week at 90p for 125g, and were 10p cheaper on Liverpool market at 55p for the same weight week on week.
There have been a lot of half-price promotions at the multiples and Marston estimated that total sales through the multiples this week would be double last year’s levels.
“This is being driven by good promotional activity and good quality supplies,” he said.
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