The sudden drop in temperatures for more than two weeks in much of Spain is causing a serious shortage of vegetables, both open ground and greenhouse, as well as of some fruits. In the case of brassicas, the drop in the supply is very severe, especially for broccoli.
"At the moment, our broccoli supply is at 30% of where it should be at this time of year, and at 70% in the case of cauliflower, which also seems to be recovering in France," says Nacho Domenech, CEO of the Murcian producer and marketer Agromark. "The situation has been like this for at least two weeks, but it seems that, after Thursday, the weather may improve and daytime temperatures will begin to rise to 20 °C, but I don't think we'll get the supply back to 100% until late spring," he says.
It is worth recalling that the area planted with winter broccoli has been reduced, and that this also contributes to the supply shortages. "The shortage of water for irrigation in Alhama de Murcia and Lorca has led to much less broccoli being planted. Therefore, until spring plantings arrive in other areas, such as Cieza, we are going to have to deal with significant product shortages."
Since the reduction in the supply, the price has increased very significantly. "We are seeing unprecedented prices in the free market, although the quantities available are small, and, therefore, they do not make up for the lack of kilos. In the auctions, the price reaches 1.70 € per kilo," said Domenech.
Most companies in the sector have been forced to reduce the supply to their customers in a period of high demand, especially in countries such as the United Kingdom. "British retailers were asking us for produce at any price, as they were running out of it on the shelves after consumption had risen by 15 to 20%, according to what we were told. In the UK, vegetable prices have not risen due to inflation, unlike those of eggs, meat and fish, which have," he says. The winter has been colder than usual in the United Kingdom, which has caused certain problems in its broccoli and cauliflower productions. These are expected to be scarce in the spring months, which will give us more opportunities to sell at good prices."
Until two weeks ago, when the cold snap started, we were a few weeks ahead in the season because the late fall and early winter had been too warm and wet, which also caused many Botrytis problems in the field. However, with the cold weather, the trend has been reverted.
Nacho Domenech warned that the high production costs and the shortage of water for irrigation due to the cutback of the Tajo-Segura water transfer and the limitations linked to the problems with the Mar Menor are going to mark the future of the broccoli supply in Europe for the next campaigns.
"The years of abundance seem to have been left behind. Discounters have kept their prices stable by spending money out of their own pockets in order to remain competitive, but this is not sustainable in the long term. The product will continue to become more expensive given that costs keep going up. In fact, prices could increase by 10-15% in the coming season. Meanwhile, the lack of water will motivate a significant reduction in the broccoli and cauliflower acreage, and there are hardly any alternatives in other growing areas of Spain, or outside the winter months."
For more information:
Nacho Doménech
O.P. Agromark, S.L
Casa Lugar Nuevo, 65.
30739 Torre de Pacheco, Murcia. Spain
T: +34 968173201
[email protected]
www.agromark.es