Supplies of a foodie favourite, purple sprouting broccoli, are running low after the harsh winter weather destroyed half of this year's British crop.
Unusually strong frosts in November 2010 left plants frozen for several weeks. "Those plants that have survived are currently about a month behind where they should be at this time of year," said Neil Booley, account manager at Staples Vegetables.
He estimated about 50% of the crop in Lincolnshire where roughly 45% of the British crop is grown had been lost, and warned that it would cause a shortfall in supply until the new crop in June. Although purple sprouting broccoli is available from Spain, Morocco and Kenya, roughly only 5% to 7% is imported.
Another grower, who did not want to be named, admitted he was in a "similar position". "It is going to be a long time until we know the full extent of the problem," he said.
A Waitrose spokeswoman confirmed the retailer was not currently selling purple sprouting broccoli because of the delay to the season caused by the weather. "We are hoping to start selling in the next couple of weeks," she said.
Sainsbury's said it sold purple sprouting broccoli all year round but would not comment on anticipated volumes this season.
Purple sprouting broccoli is sold under The Co-operative Truly Irresistible, Sainsbury's Taste The Difference and Tesco Finest premium own-label ranges as well as in other retailers under their standard tiers.
It is a good source of carotenoids, iron, folic acid, calcium, fibre and vitamins A and C, and has become popular with foodies in recent years, after chefs highlighted it as a more tender and colourful vegetable than conventional broccoli.
Value sales of purple broccoli have decreased 8.5% over the past year, and it represents about 2.6% of total broccoli sales by value [Kantar 52w/e 23 Jan 2011].
The British seasons for purple sprouting broccoli usually run between late January and early May, and again from mid-June until the first winter frosts.
Unusually strong frosts in November 2010 left plants frozen for several weeks. "Those plants that have survived are currently about a month behind where they should be at this time of year," said Neil Booley, account manager at Staples Vegetables.
He estimated about 50% of the crop in Lincolnshire where roughly 45% of the British crop is grown had been lost, and warned that it would cause a shortfall in supply until the new crop in June. Although purple sprouting broccoli is available from Spain, Morocco and Kenya, roughly only 5% to 7% is imported.
Another grower, who did not want to be named, admitted he was in a "similar position". "It is going to be a long time until we know the full extent of the problem," he said.
A Waitrose spokeswoman confirmed the retailer was not currently selling purple sprouting broccoli because of the delay to the season caused by the weather. "We are hoping to start selling in the next couple of weeks," she said.
Sainsbury's said it sold purple sprouting broccoli all year round but would not comment on anticipated volumes this season.
Purple sprouting broccoli is sold under The Co-operative Truly Irresistible, Sainsbury's Taste The Difference and Tesco Finest premium own-label ranges as well as in other retailers under their standard tiers.
It is a good source of carotenoids, iron, folic acid, calcium, fibre and vitamins A and C, and has become popular with foodies in recent years, after chefs highlighted it as a more tender and colourful vegetable than conventional broccoli.
Value sales of purple broccoli have decreased 8.5% over the past year, and it represents about 2.6% of total broccoli sales by value [Kantar 52w/e 23 Jan 2011].
The British seasons for purple sprouting broccoli usually run between late January and early May, and again from mid-June until the first winter frosts.
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