Broccoli production in Europe at the moment is at an all-time low. Producers in the UK as well as Europe have suffered a terrible growing season with a wet cold and dull Spring.
Gavin Willerton, Technical Director at Produce World says, "in Lincolnshire as in the rest of the UK, the situation is bad, worse in fact than after the 2007 floods, as this time it has been over a longer period and there is more standing water in the fields, also people are growing to order these days and do not have the surplus of years gone by." He goes on to say that the there also no supply coming into the UK from Europe.
This is backed up by Dutch producer Robert Vogel from Vogel AGF in The Netherlands, "it's a unique situation, but supply has taken a nosedive. Just about all of the large growers have hardly anything to cut. It appears to be a European problem. I have never seen anything like it." Vogel says prices in The Netherlands are sky high at around 1.70-2 Euro.
According to Alistair Ewan, Managing Director at East of Scotland Growers this is not the case in the UK, "there is no point in high prices as consumer just will not buy it."
Some broccoli is being flown in from the California, however they have not had the best of seasons either with hot weather affecting the production, prices have gone from $7 to $17.
Broccoli production in Australia has also been affected by floods, there is broccoli from South Africa but according to importers this of a completely different quality to European.
While the season is not a total wash out, it certainly be a bumpy one. Alistair Ewan says things should pick up through July, and Gavin Willerton reckons the volatility will continue for 6-8 weeks. This of course is depending on the weather.
Gavin Willerton, Technical Director at Produce World says, "in Lincolnshire as in the rest of the UK, the situation is bad, worse in fact than after the 2007 floods, as this time it has been over a longer period and there is more standing water in the fields, also people are growing to order these days and do not have the surplus of years gone by." He goes on to say that the there also no supply coming into the UK from Europe.
This is backed up by Dutch producer Robert Vogel from Vogel AGF in The Netherlands, "it's a unique situation, but supply has taken a nosedive. Just about all of the large growers have hardly anything to cut. It appears to be a European problem. I have never seen anything like it." Vogel says prices in The Netherlands are sky high at around 1.70-2 Euro.
According to Alistair Ewan, Managing Director at East of Scotland Growers this is not the case in the UK, "there is no point in high prices as consumer just will not buy it."
Some broccoli is being flown in from the California, however they have not had the best of seasons either with hot weather affecting the production, prices have gone from $7 to $17.
Broccoli production in Australia has also been affected by floods, there is broccoli from South Africa but according to importers this of a completely different quality to European.
While the season is not a total wash out, it certainly be a bumpy one. Alistair Ewan says things should pick up through July, and Gavin Willerton reckons the volatility will continue for 6-8 weeks. This of course is depending on the weather.