China: Garlic harvest season is over

"Competition in the garlic market is currently fierce. The global garlic harvest season has ended and the supply volume is large. The volume of stored garlic is large and the volume of fresh garlic is large, so the market price of garlic is estimated to remain in a low position. The garlic production volume increased worldwide, and global market prospects are not positive. Although competition is fierce, we maintain our position because we guarantee high quality." This is according to a spokesperson for one garlic retail company.

One garlic plantation owner said: "Our harvest season lasted from May 20th until May 23rd this year. The harvest season in the north was one week earlier than last year because many areas suffered from plant disease. In addition, the garlic price is low and the harvest labor cost is high. Conditions are poor everywhere, except in Yunnan where we harvested the garlic between early February and late April. The garlic is stored under natural conditions to guarantee supply until early June. From early May we start to sell garlic from refrigerated storage so that we can guarantee supply until the end of the year."

"We encountered diseased plants during harvest time, but this is normal and happens every year. Some plants suffered from root rot this year as a result of hot weather. This disease does not warrant quarantine because plants with root rot simply die. The influence of this plant disease on the overall garlic production volume is minimal."

"The surface area devoted to purple garlic plantation increased by around 10% in comparison with last year. The surface area devoted to white garlic plantation even slightly decreased in comparison with last year. The production volume per hectare is at the same level as last year. The production volume is therefore around the same as last year. The size of garlic bulbs also did not change much. The surface area devoted to purple garlic plantation increased by 5-10% and the production volume therefore increased too. Furthermore, the garlic bulbs are also larger than last year."

"The overall quality of garlic this year is worse than last year because plantations suffered from plant disease. Some plants have root rot, others have thin skinned bulbs. In addition, many garlic farmers lack knowledge of proper management and their garlic has mildew. Purple garlic has suffered less than white garlic, some of which is visibly diseased. Furthermore, the volume of mature garlic is relatively low in areas where farmers harvested earlier than last year."