Crop Report

Our nectarines are grown in the warm, sun drenched orchards of Spain and Italy. Their smooth skin, vibrant aroma and naturally intense sweetness make them a standout seasonal fruit, perfect for both fresh eating and creative kitchen applications. They’ll only be here until September, so grab them while you can.

Over the past few weeks, we have seen extreme temperatures across Europe, including the UK. These have caused real challenges for growers. With the hot weather expected to continue and, in some cases, worsen, difficult growing conditions are likely to persist.

This is being exacerbated by long periods without rain, which affects plant health and make it harder to manage pests naturally.

While there are general challenges across the board, some categories and origins are being affected more than others. Specific issues are covered in the individual category updates below.

El Niño conditions in Peru continue to unsettle the growing environment, with elevated sea temperatures across the tropical Pacific driving a more volatile and less predictable climate. For asparagus, this is placing sustained pressure on crop development, spear sizing, yields and overall market availability.

Quality concerns have been more evident on some sea freighted arrivals, where longer transit times heighten the risk of condition issues. To help protect product quality and support continuity of supply, air freight is being used where necessary to shorten journeys and reduce stress on the crop.

Despite this additional support, the wider market is expected to remain tight and challenging for the foreseeable future, with ongoing climatic instability continuing to influence both quality and availability.

The continued hot weather is placing sustained pressure on brassica crops, with growth slowing noticeably across several lines. The coming weeks will be a challenging period for brassica crops.

Pest pressure has also increased, and suppliers are working hard to manage this despite the added challenges of limited rainfall and tighter restrictions on pesticide use.

A concession has been introduced for cauliflower, as head weights remain below normal levels, although product continues to meet size specifications.

Sweetheart cabbage is also facing challenges, with the weather causing market-wide shortages.

Red and white cabbage availability remains heavily constrained as the stored crop season comes to an end. Current concessions are helping to ease some of the pressure, but supply is expected to remain challenging over the coming weeks.

Tomato availability across Europe is beginning to come under pressure as the recent heatwaves start to affect plant performance. After several weeks of strong supply, growers are now seeing early signs of tightening volumes, with certain lines expected to become more challenging in the coming weeks.

The main issue is reduced pollination as temperatures inside greenhouses have been too high for bees to move effectively, limiting fruit set and ultimately reducing yields. 

Isle of Wight tomatoes remain particularly affected, with the impact of the weather being felt across all major varieties, including yellow cherry and heirloom tomatoes. While volumes have improved, we expect another fortnight of disruption until the situation fully improves.

In many parts of the country, lettuce growers are facing a difficult period as prolonged hot weather slows growth and places crops under stress.

Our own growers near Preston have benefited from recent rainfall and cooler conditions, allowing them to maintain consistent supply despite wider market challenges.

The window for applying crop protection treatments closes in the coming days, so growers are carrying out final applications now to maximise resilience against rising pest pressure.