UK: Rain delays asparagus

Due to the high temperatures at the end of March in the UK, the earliest recorded harvest of small quantities of the outdoor crop took place in the last few days of the month. However, as the weather became considerably cooler through April, production slowed (and in most cases stopped). Not only has the air temperature throughout April affected the crop but the rain has cooled the soil temperature as well, compounding the effect.

The British supply is currently not at full volumes and, although the current warmer days should give some help to crop growth, the forecast is for temperatures to cool towards the end of the week which will slow growth again. Current predictions are that it will be another 10 days to 2 weeks before full UK supply is reached across all retailers.

The long term forecast for May is also not good but this does have the side benefit of spreading the asparagus supply more evenly throughout the season which should provide more availability for the Jubilee weekend that we might normally expect for that time of year.

For more information
Ellie Lean
Tel: 0044117 924 7220
ellie@pamlloyd.com
www.pamlloyd.com