Cold weather off and on over the last two weeks has been playing havoc with fresh produce supplies and there is no sign of any let up as low temperatures Europe-wide are forecast to return by the weekend.
While exporters’ association Coexphal reports cucumber, aubergine and capsicum production in Almeria is running well thanks to daytime highs of 30°C, there is misshape in capsicum for example because of earlier cold temperatures and stop-start growing conditions.
“We are seeing a lot of misshape in peppers this year,” said Peter Davis of Davis of Louth. “The weather has been cold on and off in parts of Spain and what is really needed is the sun - if it is warm and cloudy the product is just not growing properly.”
The impact on availability of broccoli is clear in pricing on wholesale markets which saw levels of 900-1000p this week for trays of loose product.
Large parts of France have also suffered and according to the country’s meteorological authorities only some western and south-western areas are spared. Lollo biondo and lollo rosso production has been affected to the extent that head weights are only half usual levels greatly increasing costs for products sold by weight to the catering sector.
The UK has not escaped unscathed either with Lincolnshire recording some of the lowest temperatures in the UK last week and a further cold snap expected by the weekend. This week there was only French cauliflower to be found on many wholesale markets at prices of up to 800p for 11s and most suppliers struggle to meet supermarket programmes.
Snow in Brittany was so heavy last week it prevented cauliflower deliveries and as FPJ went to press similar conditions were forecast for this weekend.
Cauliflower harvesting in the north-western French region is running 7.5 million heads behind forecast at just 22 per cent of usual production. But with increased plantings in the ground, there could be a flush of product once the weather improves.
It is a similar story in parts of Spain with one grower reporting four different fields of lettuce planted across a six-week period all at the same stage of development.
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