April's 2nd Market Update

In Season

Vegetables Jersey potatoes Broad beans Purple sprouting Broccoli English asparagus Spring greens

Salads Bunched grelot Onions Castel franco                                   Watercress                           Heritage exotic tomatoes

Mushrooms Hen of the woods Mousseron Summer truffles Morels Giroles

Fruits Alphonso mangos Air freight mangos Blood oranges Pomegranates Williams pears

The Good News

Soft Fruit

Soft fruits, despite weather challenges, is looking very good for this time of year. Italian blood oranges are performing exceptionally well and kiwi quality is excellent. Asparagus

UK asparagus is arriving in fantastic quality, and warmer weather and sunshine in the UK will increase the volumes available.

The Bad News

Rapeseed Oil

Despite large volumes of Chinese biodiesel entering Europe, the rapeseed oil used in UK foodservice remains a premium product grown primarily in Europe. Its superior quality for cooking and high grade applications means it continues to command strong prices, largely unaffected by the flood of the cheaper Chinese fuel oils.

Melon

Demand for winter melons remains strong, with high pricing across the category.

Salad

The Uk and Dutch seasons are slowly starting. Spot market prices increased again this week in the UK, as sunny day in the UK mean more demand for salad-type products in a short supply market. We still expect issues with sizing and colouration to continue until the end of the season on most products from Spain and Morocco.

Broccoli

Broccoli has started to come under pressure with availability, and market prices ae rising. There are new concerns around aphids and whitefly in the crop.

Cauliflower

With the French season coming to an end, we would normally look at Spanish produce to fill a small gap until the new UK season starts, but with the same issues as broccoli we will monitor and update the situation over the next few weeks.

Courgettes

Courgettes remain high in price and short in availability.

Carrots

Carrots continue to be difficult due to the heavy rains in January and February.

Grapes

Grapes are now coming under pressure as fruit from India is being kept for their domestic market, owing to shipping issues in the Middle East.

Apples

Apples will become more difficult as we start to go through transitions of origins an certain varieties.

Avocado

Avocado, as per usual, is very difficult at this time of year, but with issues in the Middle East, new season Kenyan fruit is not likely to be shipped.

Savoy and Winter Cabbage

Brassica supply remains variable. With cold weather affecting yields and tightening availability in the short term.