Horticulture
Monthly Price data
Survey date: 15 February 2012
|
Crop
|
Wholesale
|
Farm Shop
|
Multiple
|
Unit
|
Imported
|
|
Asparagus
|
/
|
/
|
£11.00
|
kg
|
|
|
Beans - Broad
|
£5.40
|
/
|
/
|
kg
|
*
|
|
Beans - French
|
£5.40
|
/
|
/
|
kg
|
*
|
|
Beetroot
|
£0.88
|
£1.35
|
/
|
kg
|
|
|
Broccoli
|
£2.53
|
£3.95
|
£3.75
|
kg
|
|
|
Brussels Sprouts
|
£1.75
|
/
|
/
|
kg
|
|
|
Cabbage - Red
|
£0.95
|
£1.38
|
£1.69
|
kg
|
|
|
Cabbage - Savoy
|
£0.66
|
£0.70
|
/
|
kg
|
|
|
Cabbage - White
|
£0.89
|
£1.32
|
£1.69
|
kg
|
|
|
Carrots
|
£0.74
|
£1.27
|
£1.47
|
kg
|
|
|
Cauliflower
|
/
|
/
|
£1.65
|
kg
|
*
|
|
Celery
|
£0.95
|
£1.58
|
£1.40
|
kg
|
*
|
|
Courgettes
|
£2.88
|
£5.05
|
/
|
kg
|
*
|
|
Cucumbers (long)
|
£1.58
|
£2.05
|
£1.20
|
kg
|
*
|
|
Leeks
|
£1.63
|
£1.80
|
£4.70
|
kg
|
|
|
Lettuce - Cos
|
£1.06
|
£0.70
|
£0.75
|
head
|
*
|
|
Lettuce - Little Gem
|
/
|
£0.70
|
£0.75
|
head
|
*
|
|
Onions - Spring
|
/
|
/
|
/
|
kg
|
|
|
Onions - White
|
£0.85
|
£1.32
|
£1.33
|
kg
|
|
|
Potatoes - Early
|
/
|
/
|
/
|
kg
|
|
|
Potatoes - Maincrop
|
£0.52
|
£0.62
|
£0.93
|
kg
|
|
|
Squash - Butternut
|
£1.59
|
£2.85
|
£1.80
|
kg
|
*
|
|
Tomatoes - Cherry
|
£3.55
|
£5.16
|
£10.50
|
kg
|
*
|
|
Tomatoes - loose
|
£2.64
|
£4.24
|
£4.63
|
kg
|
*
|
These results are averaged from information collected from key producers and traders. Multi prices are averaged from prices seen on mysupermarket.com Prices serve as a guide only.
Horticulture Market Overview – October/November 2011
Overall, it seems that 2011 was not a bad year for most growers – particularly in comparison to 2009–2010. Regular, but not excessive, rain suited many crops, although squashes and beans were not so successful. Worryingly, a lack of pollinating insects was cited by some as a major cause of failure in certain crops.
In light of the slight rallying of sales, the feeling among delegates at our recent Horticultural Symposium was one of cautious optimism, tempered by the recognition that there is still a huge amount of work to do to win back the ‘lighter green’ consumer. During the event we conducted a survey and most respondents reported a small increase in sales over 2010, predicting another small increase next year. Supplies to farmers’ markets and private catering outlets seem to be the main areas of increase.
Other key highlights at the event included confirmation that very local and dark green customers have remained mostly loyal. A particularly interesting presentation examined the disparity in approach between the different supermarkets, with Waitrose’s commitment to organic resulting in greater market share, with Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and M&S also doing well on some lines. The Co-Operative and (particularly) Tesco, however, have seen their organic market share decrease. Buying groups were also highlighted as an opportunity for growers of all sizes to bridge the gap between very local direct sales and the wholesale market.
You’ll find a lot more information on buying groups on our website – see www.soilassociation.org/organicbuyinggroups
Ben Raskin is horticulture adviser at the Soil Association