Soft fruit supplies have been running extremely short but that is about to change this week as sources in the Mediterranean Basin come on stream.
With Dutch supplies finishing early and Israel late to come into volume production, strawberry prices on the wholesale markets went as high as 400p a lb and fruit came in from as far afield as Australia.
“Egypt and Israel are both stepping up availability but there has also been strong demand from the rest of Europe,” said Ian Waller of The Summerfruit Company. “They have been a week to two weeks later than usual with volume.”
North American supplies from Mexico and California are therefore starting to slow. “Both sources have had a reasonable season and have really stepped into the breach,” said Nick Marston, managing director of KG Fruits. “Demand in the late autumn and early winter is increasing year on year and I think they will be called on increasingly to fill the gap between the end of the Dutch glasshouse season in late October until Mediterranean supplies come on stream.”
Mexico is also proving an extremely valuable source blackberries, according to Waller. “We are seeing a lot of repeat purchase,” he said. “We are supplying the Tupi variety which is delivering excellent quality and flavour. Supplies can go right through, but we are also just starting with small volumes from Chile this week.”
Spain is running a little late on supplies of raspberry from the Huelva region. “They have had some cooler weather but supply should step up a gear in the next week or so,” said Waller.
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