Citrus fruit may be in short supply in the run up to Christmas due to floods in Europe. Despite many regions of Spain welcoming the rain after months of drought, the key growing area of Murcia in the east of the country has experienced such heavy rainfall that many fields are flooded, which could lead to issues with supply and quality.
Producers are unable to harvest crops as many fields remain under water and the rising temperature is causing issues with mould. Some reports suggest that between 250,000 and 500,000 tonnes of citrus have been lost.
My Purchasing Partner is working closely with suppliers to mitigate any impacts, however, please be aware of shortages and expected commodities from outside of the EU:
Clementines, oranges and lemons
Fruit needs to be dry to be able to pick from the tree.
Lettuce
Pinking may occur as the lettuce has taken on so much water.
Beef tomatoes
Greenhouses in the Murcia region have been severely damaged and fruit from Almería is not ready for picking. The fruit we receive may be smaller in size and greener than usual.
On the positive side, the rainfall has replenished irrigation water and cleaned the trees, removing pests. This should help with improving supply as we move into the New Year.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us on: info@mypurchasingpartner.co.uk or 0800 121 6440.
