Strawberry prices are surging in the wake of poor weather conditions across Europe. Wholesale prices have increased by 65% on last month and are now 63% higher than in April 2017.
Spain, which is the top exporter of strawberries to the UK, saw a large increase in the acreage under the cultivation in 2017/18, but production is set to drop 8% year on year, due to heavy rainfall and low temperatures. Additionally, the greenhouse harvest was marked by a fungal disease due to high humidity caused by the unfavourable weather conditions.
The supply of strawberries from Spain is usually supported with additional produce from Israel and Egypt, particularly through the winter and early spring. However, the harvest from both exporters ceased in March, which has hit supply over the past few weeks.
In the Netherlands, the other major exporter of strawberries to the UK, the season has now commenced, bringing new supplies into the market, and the produce is of a higher quality. However, Dutch strawberry prices are historically higher than Spanish ones, so the additional supply has not eased prices, which remain high as supply switches.
It means all eyes are on the UK strawberry harvest, which usually begins in April when the warmer weather arrives. So far, buyers have not seen many UK strawberries come into the market, with the season reportedly slightly delayed due to the frost and prolonged low temperatures.
However, the warmer weather forecast for the next few weeks is likely to trigger the UK harvest, lowering prices. Most strawberries in the UK are grown in greenhouses so the quality and volume of fruit is likely to be unaffected by recent cold weather.
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