Large differences between daytime and night-time temperatures have been causing problems for growers of salad and vegetable lines.
Quique Oliver of Spanish exporter Agriveg said: “This season has been very strange so far. We had almost summery conditions until about two or three weeks ago and now temperatures have fallen and are really low at night. This is affecting the whole Mediterranean coastal area in Spain and we are experiencing temperatures of 16 to 18°C during the day which is plunging to 4 to 5°C at night.”
This dramatic difference is taking its toll on plant and crop development, which is in turn having an impact on the marketplace. “What is happening is that plants are trying to get going in the daytime and then growth is being halted at night,” said Oliver.
Prices in the UK are reflecting this. One New Covent Garden trader said: “Peppers are quite dear from Spain and red are making 700-750p with yellow at 900p a carton.”
The picture was even more robust on Sheffield market. “Peppers are holding their money at 900p for red and green and 1100p for yellow,” one trader told freshinfo. “Courgettes have been even crazier at 1300p for 5kg cartons.”
Oliver said that these price points are welcomed in Spain. “The prices are helping growers at least to recover some of their costs,” he concluded.
