First there was Buran, now temperatures have become spring-like. And a new cold front is expected to hit the country around 20th March lasting until Easter.
A producer from Foggia reported that "because of the cold weather, we weren't able to harvest fennel, cauliflowers or broccoli. Fennel was protected by films and so damage was limited, but cauliflowers started to change colour already a few days after harvesting, processing, packaging and shipping. This led to quite a few complaints, especially from our foreign clients. Maybe we should have just destroyed everything."
(Archive photo)
Around 50% of the company's cauliflowers are damaged, prices have skyrocketed and demand is high. "Spain is pushing broccoli and cabbages trying to keep prices down, but the Spaniards are not doing so well either and the Italian produce is still in demand."
Damaged cauliflowers are sold around €0.80 at the moment, and Romanesco cauliflower sell at €1-1.10.
Demand and supply should go back to normal in around fifteen days' time. "Provided that temperatures don't drop too much with the next cold front, brassicas could benefit from it and consumption could improve. I wonder whether there will be any gaps, especially when it comes to broccoli and cauliflowers."
Buran Bis
A new cold front from Russia called Buran Bis is expected to hit Italy.
Experts from ilMeteo.it report that "what was predicted by the international GFS model is alarming. A new cold front could hit Italy around 20th March and it may even snow at low altitudes in the north."