There is a general shortage of tomatoes on the UK market as the effects of poor weather in the mainland Spanish growing regions of Almería and Murcia in February hit late season supplies. The frosts effectively killed off some growers' plants so that at this point in the season there is very little product being harvested and finding its way onto the marketplace.
The Canary Islands were less severely hit by poor weather conditions but have had to contend with unseasonably low temperatures earlier in the season. This year growers have planted less too, and although traditionally the season would continue for about another month, the increased demand for Canary product due to mainland Spanish problems is speeding uptake.
New season northern European supplies are now coming on stream, but the UK tomato campaign will not really start to kick in until next month and its three month peak will last until July.
Belgian tomato supplies are also starting to build and the Flandria quality label expects some 2.3 million kg at auction next week quickly rising to a peak of about 4 million kg in the last week of May.
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