Slow wholesale trade in fruit and vegetables in the UK last month

Wholesale trade in fruit and vegetables was slow and steady in the UK in the first half of June but picked up towards the end of the month as the weather improved, according to the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

In its report on fruit and vegetable wholesale prices for June, Defra said the amount of UK-grown produce varied as some crops were coming to the end of their season and other summer crops were coming onto the market. “Imports from the continent ensured supplies of soft fruit and salad were good across the month.”

Defra also reported:

Berries
Strawberries: demand was high but prices fell 24% to £1.85/kg as more fruit including Scottish and Dutch and Belgian imports came onto the market
Raspberries: demand was also high but the price fell 11% to £6.86/kg as supplies increased. The quality of the fruit remained high across June which stopped the price falling further

Pears
UK-grown pears: supplies continue to fall as the season comes to a close
Conference pears: prices rose 13% to 0.59/kg

Vegetables
Asparagus: prices continued to fall, down 18% to £5/kg
Broad beans: prices fell 37% to £1.42/kg as supplies increased and demand dwindled
Savoy cabbage: price up 25% to £0.51/head
White cabbage: price up 33% to £0.48/kg as new season crop supplies were short
Cauliflower: prices rose across the month as supplies dwindled
Leeks: prices rose as supplies were short awaiting the new season crop

source: Defra