Continuing rainfall in the UK is proving disastrous for fresh produce crops, both on trees and in the ground, as well as threatening plantings for supplies in the weeks and months to come.
“Over the last three weeks there can scarcely be a single grower who has planted in good conditions,” said David Piccaver, chairman of the British Leafy Salads Association. “Some might have been lucky, but the rain has affected Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Kent, Bedfordshire, Norfolk and Worcestershire.”
Growers of a full range of lettuce and leafy salads are taking the opportunities to plant when they can, he said. “They can’t wait until conditions are perfect. So we are talking about the impact being felt through August. A lot of people will want to plant on the land they have just harvested but won’t be able to because it is waterlogged. This is affecting the whole leafy salad range across the board.”
Piccaver reported understanding from some supermarket buyers of the gravity of the situation, but NFU Horticulture Board chairman Richard Hirst is calling for far more.
“There has to be a realisation that this is a completely different year to last year and if some of the problems are not shared throughout the supply chain, there are going to be a really difficult couple of years not just for growers, but for packers and processors too,” Hirst warned.
The frozen pea sector is suffering its third poor year in four. “A quick survey of our members reveals that the most optimistic are forecasting a 10-15 per cent shortfall, whilst the worst hit areas are forecasting 60-70 per cent crop loss,” said Martin Riggall, chief executive of the Processed Vegetable Growers Association (PVGA).
The biggest concern is that growers will turn their backs on the crop because the price does not cover the cost of growing and harvesting in anything less than a bumper year. “Following a short crop last year, supermarkets increased retail prices by around 30 per cent, but none of this was passed along the supply chain to help mitigate the losses of the freezing companies and growers,” added Riggall. “We hope retailers will take a longer-term view this time.”
Nick Marston, managing director of Berry Gardens, said that up to 50 per cent of his growers’ cherry crops have been damaged. “Cherries are a disaster area,” said Marston. “There are large losses due to splitting on crops that are unprotected which is probably about half of our tonnage. It used to be like this on strawberries but now we have 80 per cent under polytunnels.”
Strawberries are also being affected both in terms of consumption and production by the weather. “Sales have been dented and we are about 15 per cent down on this time last year,” said Marston. “Supplies are about 30 per cent down.”
The English maincrop has finished and 60-day Elsanta is delayed by the weather. The problem is worsened by the fact that 60-day Elsanta is the crop with the least coverage of any during the UK season. “The Dutch and Belgians have similar weather to us and everyone is bringing in from the US to patch up availability,” added Marston.
Rainfall has hit unprecedented levels. Norfolk, for instance, has registered 13 inches in the last six weeks - more than the annual average for parts of the county.
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