Spring Crop Report 2025

Market Report

Vegetables

Spanish supply has been good, with cooler and wetter conditions favouring this crop, with supply taking us through until summer. UK crop is currently being planted and expected late-June.

The quality of Red and White UK cabbage this year is excellent, with a plentiful supply of white cabbage. Red cabbage availability is lower and has a shorter shelf life due to its higher sugar content. To maintain consistent availability and quality, a contingency crop from Spain is anticipated in May and June.

Supply of UK crop is currently good and is expected to see us through to the new season with imports only being used for larger sizes. Planting for the new crop has been well underway since early March due to the favourable weather.

UK quality looks good, head sizes will be to the bottom end of specification initially and will increase as the weather improves into spring. Growers are taking advantage of dry conditions and planting for summer is underway.

Yellow and red onions supply is good from the Netherlands. Late rains in the UK last autumn caused some water damage but crops put into store are expected to be ok into summer. Red onion supply will move to Egyptian mid-April for around 6 weeks as planned.

Quality and supply are good with the expectation that we will move into imported crop from the second week in June. Planting started early due to the good weather conditions experienced in March.

Crop has had to be heavily selected. Supply of baking potatoes could become difficult as we enter the final stages of the season. Looking ahead to the 2025/26 crop, some growers in Suffolk and Cornwall have taken advantage of the dry conditions and started planting early salad varieties under fleece. It is likely there will be a wider range of varieties used this season.

Looking forward to UK harvest - no reported issues.

Portuguese will take us through until June when UK crop starts, UK planting is going well.

Quality overall is good, reduced availability is holding pricing high, more lucrative crops such as cereals and sugar beet are competing for land.

Mainly Portuguese and Spanish, quality is good, UK expected late June/July, planting already underway.

Salads

Very good with no concerns.

Supply good with low volumes of new season Dutch now running alongside, no issues and quality is good.

Supply and quality are good. There are some grower concerns about mildew when overcast, but nothing has been seen.

Supply is a mix of UK glasshouse and Italian and Spanish supply, quality is very good without any problems expected.

Spanish supply is good despite the heavy rain. UK expected in June.

Low availability. Some pink rib staining will be seen towards the end of March due to heavy rains in the Murcia region. Advice is to remove outer leaf as this is unfortunately unavoidable. Improvement is expected early April and UK will start in June.

The winter season has been particularly challenging due to poor conditions in Spain and reduced pesticide availability, leading to a surge in thrips infestations. These pests damage crops, resulting in destroyed fruit, increased waste in the supply chain, and skin defects that cause greater skin marking.

Production is low and poor conditions are affecting ripening. Fruit may be towards the larger size due to slow ripening.

Moroccan with Canaries as a contingency supply. Production volumes are low, quality and shelf life have been challenging due to plant viruses.

Fruit

Main supply is currently from Mexico, with quality of Erendira very good.

Supply from Chile is strong, with sea freight preferred for shipping. The available variety is Blue Gold, and the quality is good.

Availability has been challenging due to shipping. For all varieties, we hope to see an improvement in shipping as we move into spring when weather patterns are typically smoother in the Atlantic. For green grapes, quality has been good, particularly for autumn Crisp and Sweet Globe from South Africa, with supply of Indian Thompson expected to begin in April. Currently, red grape options include Sweet Calibration from Namibia and South African Tawny, with Peruvian grapes available as a backup.

Grape has been challenging. Quality has been average and availability low due to shipping. Loose red has been substituted with green for about a week due to delayed vessels but supply is expected to restart.

Main supply is Spanish. Nicalia variety supply has been lower due to the poor conditions in the Mediterranean.

Main supply is Moroccan Palmeritas variety, and these may have to be supplied longer than planned until Spanish Leticia become available.

Exotics

Mexican supply until UK season starts early May for approximately 6 weeks.

Supply is mainly India with Thailand as a backup, quality is good.

Quality is good but supply is challenging, and rainbow carrot is very limited due to water damage.

Quality is very good with Rwanda in the background as a backup. Our grower is planning a trial this summer with a crop of fine beans; this variety is suited to warmer conditions. If successful, we will receive them in July.

Portuguese and Spanish will end in April, South African supply will be phase in as European finishes.

All chillies, in particular jalapenos, have been challenging this spring, with new jalapeno varieties resistant to pests causing shortages. Red and green long chillies from Morocco have performed better.

Quality is good and will take use through until summer.

Garlic from Spain has been affected by poor weather supply; will be Chinese for the time being - quality is good.

Availability and quality of Brazilian ginger has been good, moving into Chinese supply through May until new season Brazilian starts again mid-summer. Garlic from Spain is still affected by poor weather, so supply remains mainly Chinese and is expected to take us through into summer.

Quality is very good, but supply has been very challenging due shipping.

Brazilian Palmer supply moved to Tommy Atkins in May, quality is good.

French supply has tightened up. Late rains last year have reduced supply, and ongoing weather problems could affect planting for new season.

Quality is very good.

Quality and supply are good with Guatemalan running alongside and will take over from April.

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