Tomato supplies have been tightening in the UK this week as major sources in the UK and on the Continent experience the knock-on effects of high temperatures and light levels over the summer.
Salads supplier The Greenery, which sources from Spain and the Netherlands as well as the UK through its subsidiary Humber VHB, reports that the short situation is likely to last for another two to three weeks. It has already started to bring in a little fruit from the south-eastern Spanish region of Murcia and is running this alongside its Dutch and UK supplies.
"Spanish production is not yet in full swing and in Holland and to a lesser extent the UK, growers are feeling the impact of the August heatwave," said the Greenery's James Millsop. "This situation is likely to last until mid-October. We always expect a bit of difficulty at this time of year as UK supplies tail off, but the weather we had in August has made it harder."
Paul Challinor at Humber VHB's Runcton nursery explained: "The hot weather caused problems with new crops establishing causing delays in supply and replanting," he said. "We are at the end of the UK and Dutch seasons and volumes are reducing because of lower light levels. But demand is still strong because the weather is good which is pushing prices up and that's good for UK growers."
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