Vegetable freezers and canners major European producing countries have expressed concern over this year’s spring crops. According to the Brussels-headquartered European Association of Fruit and Vegetable Processors (PROFEL), excessive rain in the south and cold weather and a late spring in the north have resulted in very
late planting and consequently a shorter season.
All important production areas in Europe face severe delays, and shortages are expected for a number of crops, as detailed below.
Peas: In Southern Spain, Portugal and Hungary pea production was particularly badly affected and shortages are already predicted. Drilling in northwest Europe was set back by two to three weeks.
Winter Spinach: Farmers in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Germany have experienced about 25 days of delay in the harvest. Due to heavy rain, Spain lost around 60% of anticipated production.
Spring Spinach: Planting was three weeks late.
Baby Carrots: Growers in Holland, Belgium and France expect delays in the summer crop.
Broccoli: Farmers in Portugal and Spain report important shortages due to heavy rains, while growers in Poland reports a two-week delay due to the cold spring weather.
Beans: The drilling of beans will be delayed, especially for producers in northern Europe who sow beans as a second crop after first peas are harvested.
The late spring and the shortened season cast uncertainty over available volumes, especially against the background of the current low stocks, following last year’s rather short crop.
Final 2012 production figures were recently confirmed at European level (see hereunder), showing a three to five percent reduction in volumes of vegetables processed in the main producer countries compared to the previous year. Frozen vegetable tonnage (excluding sweet corn, tomatoes and potatoes), for example fell to 3,124,000 from 3.232.300 in 2011. Canned tonnage slipped to 2,005,300 from 2,108,000.
